Pulmonary Lymphangitic Carcinomatosis

Diffuse interstitial lung diseases, in the strict sense, are immunologically mediated inflam­mations accounting for up to 5% of all pulmonary diseases, while diffuse interstitial lung diseases in the broader sense (infections, toxic damage, radiation injury, cardiovascular and metabolic dis­eases) account for up to 20% of lung diseases. Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of middle-aged and elderly patients. Six to eight per cent of all metastases to the lungs show characteristic features of pulmonary lymphangitic car­cinomatosis. A rare case of pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis with clinical signs of diffuse interstitial lung disease is reported. In this patient with multiple ventricular polyposis diagnosed eight years previously, primary adenocarcinoma was found in a malignant polyp. By presenting this case, the author wishes to draw attention to some characteristics of pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomato­sis which may help the clinician to make a correct diagnosis, although in most cases it is hard to distinguish between different forms of diffuse interstitial lung diseases.