2015 Volume 37 Issue 3 Pages 303-307
Background. Thoracoscopic lung biopsy is often necessary to diagnose primary pulmonary mucosaassociated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) is extremely rare. Case. A 70-year-old man had an abnormal shadow on an chest X-ray film 10 years earlier; however, he did not receive any therapy. He was referred to our hospital by his doctor for an abnormal chest shadow on a routine health checkup in 2013. Mild dilatation of the left B^4a bronchus, thickening of bronchovascular bundles, and a 23-mm-diameter nodular shadow with an extended bronchiole in the periphery were seen. TBLB was performed, and diagnosed as MALT lymphoma by immunostaining and PCR analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement. No lesions were found in other organs; therefore, the diagnosis was primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma. We observed the patient, without any additional treatment. He is presently alive without disease progression. Conclusion. It is important to examine not only the pathologic findings but also immunostaining and PCR analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement in making the diagnosis of MALT lymphoma.
