Birt–Hogg–Dubé – a rare case of cystic lung disease

The differential diagnosis of cystic lung disease in adults includes inherited genetic syndromes and several acquired conditions. Birt–Hogg–Dube syndrome (BHD) is a rare inherited cystic lung disease associated with an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma, pulmonary cysts, and spontaneous pneumothorax that is not typically included in the differential diagnosis. Early recognition of this potentially life threatening syndrome is important and may help prevent complications associated with this disease entity. The presence of spontaneous pneumothorax in this patient population is estimated at 30 %, and 12–34 % of patients with BHD are eventually diagnosed with renal cancer, usually by age 50 years.