Abstract

Abstract

Mediastinal lymphadenopathies, parenchymal consolidation, and pericardial effusion were detected in a fifty-eight year-old woman presenting with the complaints of dyspnea, chest pain and weakness. Echocardiographic findings were evaluated as compatible with cardiac amyloidosis. A monoclonal gammapathy in protein electrophoresis and IgG lambda monoclonal gammapathy were detected in immunelectrophoresis. Skin involvement was demonstrated by skin biopsy. The patient had the diagnosis of primary amyloidosis with lung involvement proven by transbronchial lung biopsy. Pulmonary amyloidosis may be part of systemic amyloidosis, or it may be detected as a localised amyloidosis. Among the types of systemic amyloidosis, lung involvement is mostly present in primary amyloidosis. There is a significant association between lung and cardiac involvement. In these patients, chest X-ray and thoracic CT should be performed to evaluate the lung involvement. Bronchoscopy is an important diagnostic tool for investigating the tracheobronchial amyloidosis as well as for providing the histopathological diagnosis. The presence of cardiac involvement is the most important prognostic factor. (Tur Toraks Der 2008;9:181-4)