POLYCYSTIC LUNG DISEASE: CASE REPORT

Polycystic lung disease is a particular condition characterized by the presence of multiple air spaces, distributed in both lungs, expression of a syndrome covering rare and multisystem diseases. With the exception of centrilobular emphysema, diseases like lymphangio-leiomyomatosis, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, or lymphoid interstitial pneumonia are rare condition. Clinical, tomographic and histopathologic criteria could be used for the differential diagnosis. We report the case of polycystic lung disease in a 64-year-old male non-smoking firefighter who presented an associated chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Using high-resolution computed tomography, we describe the distribution, size and shape of pulmonary cysts, compatible with centrilobular emphysema. The associated lesions consisted in cystic bronchiectasis and non-significant interstitial linear fibrosis. Based on a literature review, we outline clinical and computed tomography appearances of other causes of polycystic lung disease.