Abstract
Bronchoscopy was performed on a 73 year-old female who complained of hemoptysis. Multiple submucosal plaques were located in the lower part of the trachea and the bilateral main bronchi, subsequently the right lower lobe, the left upper and lower lobe orifices were extremly narrowed by the plaques. Transbronchoscopic biopsies of the bronchi revealed submucosal amyloid deposits. Rectal and skin biopsies failed to demonstrate amyloid deposits, and the patient was free of any diseases known to yield secondary amyloidosis. The amyloid in this case was stained positively with Congo-red after potassium permanganate treatment, as well as by light chain k type immunoglobulin by PAP method. Consequently the amyloid was interpreted as being composed of AL protein k type. Plasma cells infiltrating around the amyloid deposits were also stained positively with the light chain k type, suggesting some role played by the plasma cells in the production of the amyloid.
