Korean J Med.  2010 Dec;79(6):697-700.

NK-T cell lymphoma manifesting as acute respiratory distress syndrome

• Jeong ES
• Joo K
• Kim JS
• Min KS
• Choi SJ
• Nam HS
• Cho JH

Abstract

Primary pulmonary lymphoma is a rare disease, and non-B cell lymphomas (T-cell and natural killer cell lymphomas) involving the lung parenchyma are uncommonly reported. The most common radiological feature of pulmonary parenchymal lymphoma is a single mass or nodule. A 49-year-old woman with dyspnea was referred with suspicion of severe pneumonia. A chest radiograph showed diffuse nodular infiltration in both lungs. Acute respiratory failure was severe and rapidly progressive, so she was managed with a mechanical ventilator under the impression of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy by video-assisted thoracic surgery revealed NK-T cell lymphoma. We report a case of extranodal NK-T cell lymphoma presenting as ARDS.

Keyword

Bronchoalveolar lavage; Extranodal NK-T cell lymphoma; Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Dyspnea
Female
Humans
Killer Cells, Natural
Lung
Lymphoma
Middle Aged
Pneumonia
Rare Diseases
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult
Respiratory Insufficiency
Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
Thorax
Ventilators, Mechanical