A unique case of AH-dominant type nodular pulmonary amyloidosis presenting as a spontaneous pneumothorax: a case report and review of the literature

Pathol Oncol Res. 2023 Sep 22:29:1611390. doi: 10.3389/pore.2023.1611390. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Amyloidosis is a rare metabolic disorder primarily brought on by misfolding of an autologous protein, which causes its local or systemic deposition in an aberrant fibrillar form. It is quite rare for pulmonary tissue to be impacted by amyloidosis; of the three forms it can take when involving pulmonary tissue, nodular pulmonary amyloidosis is the most uncommon. Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis rarely induces clinical symptoms, and most often, it is discovered accidentally during an autopsy or via imaging techniques. Only one case of nodular pulmonary amyloidosis, which manifested as a spontaneous pneumothorax, was found in the literature. In terms of more precise subtyping, nodular amyloidosis is typically AL or mixed AL/AH type. No publications on AH-dominant type of nodular amyloidosis were found in the literature. We present a case of an 81 years-old male with nodular pulmonary AH-dominant type amyloidosis who presented with spontaneous pneumothorax. For a deeper understanding of the subject, this study also provides a review of the literature on cases with nodular pulmonary amyloidosis in relation to precise amyloid fibril subtyping. Since it is often a difficult process, accurate amyloid type identification is rarely accomplished. However, this information is very helpful for identifying the underlying disease process (if any) and outlining the subsequent diagnostic and treatment steps. Even so, it is crucial to be aware of this unit and make sure it is taken into consideration when making a differential diagnosis of pulmonary lesions.

Keywords: AH amyloidosis; amyloidoma; amyloidosis; nodular pulmonary amyloidosis; pneumothorax.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amyloidosis* / complications
  • Amyloidosis* / diagnosis
  • Amyloidosis* / pathology
  • Amyloidosis, Familial
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases* / complications
  • Lung Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases* / pathology
  • Male
  • Pneumothorax* / diagnosis
  • Pneumothorax* / etiology
  • Skin Diseases, Genetic

Supplementary concepts

  • Amyloidosis, Primary Cutaneous

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic (EATRIS-CZ—LM2018133; National Institute for Cancer Research, Program EXCELES, ID Project No. LX22NPO5102—Funded by the European Union—Next-Generation EU).