Bilateral Nodular Pulmonary Granulomas and Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: Simulated Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm and Spontaneous Remission of Ureteral Obstruction

AN APPARENTLY HOPELESS SITUATION L thought to be due to malignant neoplasm occasionally is deceiving and, therefore, irrefutable pathologic evidence of malignancy is sought before one is resigned to therapeutic nihilism. The following report of a case supports this principle, as the patient was admitted to the University of Chicago Hospitals almost 3 years ago, anuric and with bilateral pulmonary masses presumed to be metastases. She is alive and well today without evidence of malignant disease and represents, to our knowledge, the first case of spontaneous remission in proved retroperitoneal fibrosis as well as an example of unusual, multiple, bilateral, nodular, pulmonary granulomas. Report of a Case First Hospital Admission, Sept. 21, 1959.—A 51-year-old white woman with anuria of 2 days' duration was well until 5 months prior to admission, when she noted bilateral low back pain which became progressively worse but was not associated with dysuria, hematuria, or fever.