Honeycomb lung‐like structures resulting from clustering of traction bronchiectasis distally in sarcoidosis

Abstract

Abstract Gene expression profiles of patients with progressive sarcoidosis, most of whom had evidence of fibrosis on imaging, have been reported to be similar to those of patients with inflammatory hypersensitivity pneumonitis, while expression profiles in progressive sarcoidosis did not resemble those of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, it is not known whether specific parenchymal features discerned on computed tomography (CT) imaging can predict development of fibrosis in pulmonary fibrosis. We herein describe a rare case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with honeycomb lung‐like structures developing as a result of concentration of traction bronchiectasis distally, predominantly in both lower lung fields, which developed through shrinkage of consolidations comprising a “central–peripheral band” detected in a woman in her 60s, with non‐caseating epithelioid granuloma. To our knowledge, this is the first case demonstrating the distinctive morphology and developmental process of honeycomb lung‐like structures in fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Keywords

• Chronic respiratory failure
• fibrosis
• honeycomb lung
• sarcoidosis
• traction bronchiectasis