Thanks to our fearless leader Dr. Schroedl for presenting an interesting case of pulmonary MALT lymphoma!
Young woman with chest pain and dyspnea – left upper lobe lesion that didn’t respond to empiric treatment for CAP or even an empirical treatment for fungal pneumonia (unknown exact regimen). Bloodwork and noninvasive infectious workup were unrevealing. Initial bronchoscopy and biopsy were unrevealing. Repeat imaging six months later showed persistence of left upper lobe mass.
The patient got a repeat CT-guided biopsy that showed MALT lymphoma! This is a rare disease, and an extranodal low-grade B-cell lymphoma.
Treatment: ritxumab
The patient had good imaging response but persistent dyspnea, which is thought to be asthma that upon further probing, seemed present even prior to these.
Nice review article here: https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/34/6/1408
Thanks, Dr. Schroedl!
Clara Schroedl, MD, MSc, Medicine – Pulmonary/Critical Care