Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy Mimicking Inhalation Lung Injury

Intern Med. 2019 May 1;58(9):1311-1314. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1796-18. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Abstract

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a complication characterized by dyspnea, pulmonary hypertension, and occasionally sudden death. We encountered a man who developed PTTM and had an inhalation history of chemical herbicides and abnormal findings on chest computed tomography, mimicking chemical inhalation lung injury. He was diagnosed with PTTM with adenocarcinoma by a transbronchial lung biopsy and received chemotherapy and anticoagulant therapy. He survived for one month. An autopsy revealed primary gastric cancer with PTTM that can have a presentation similar to diffuse pulmonary diseases, including chemical inhalation lung injury. The examination of a biopsy specimen is crucial in such patients.

Keywords: gastric carcinoma; inhalation lung injury; pulmonary hypertension; pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy; signet ring cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Aged
  • Autopsy
  • Biopsy
  • Burns, Inhalation / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / secondary
  • Chlorine / toxicity
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dyspnea / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Herbicides / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / complications
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / diagnosis
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
  • Stomach Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Thrombotic Microangiopathies / complications
  • Thrombotic Microangiopathies / diagnosis*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / adverse effects

Substances

  • Herbicides
  • Chlorine