Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis associated with asbestos exposure

Pathol Int. 1996 Jan;46(1):66-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.1996.tb03535.x.

Abstract

A 71 year old man was admitted for the purpose of diagnosis of a right solitary pulmonary nodule. The size of the nodule was 18 x 18 mm in diameter 2 years ago, but it has become large, 25 x 25 mm in diameter. The nodule was resected by thoracotomy. Microscopically, eosinophilic amorphous, acellular substances were surrounded by inflammatory infiltrates. It stained with Congo red stain and showed green birefringence with polarizing microscopy. Amyloid fibrils were observed electron microscopically. Asbestos bodies were observed in the lung parenchyma around the nodule. This case shows that a nodule in nodular pulmonary amyloidosis can grow gradually and suggests the possibility of asbestos fibers as one of the etiologic factors in nodular pulmonary amyloidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Amyloidosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Amyloidosis / etiology*
  • Amyloidosis / metabolism
  • Amyloidosis / pathology
  • Asbestos / adverse effects*
  • Asbestosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Asbestosis / etiology*
  • Asbestosis / metabolism
  • Asbestosis / pathology
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Lung Diseases / metabolism
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Polarization
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Radiography, Thoracic

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Biomarkers
  • Asbestos