Complete resolution of roentgenographic changes in a patient with pulmonary histiocytosis X.

A smoker presented with pleuritic chest pain and was found to have reticulonodular interstitial opacities on chest x-ray film. Open lung biopsy revealed changes consistent with histiocytosis X, a disease seen almost exclusively in smokers. Smoking cessation was recommended, and the patient complied. A chest x-ray film taken nearly three years later revealed complete resolution of the radiographic abnormalities. It is proposed that smoking cessation may be related to the improvement in this patient's chest x-ray film findings, and that it should be recommended for all patients with pulmonary histiocytosis X.

[1]  D L Buschman,et al.  Pulmonary histiocytosis X: comparison of radiographic and CT findings. , 1989, Radiology.

[2]  V. Ferrans,et al.  Accumulation of Langerhans' cells on the epithelial surface of the lower respiratory tract in normal subjects in association with cigarette smoking. , 1988, The American review of respiratory disease.

[3]  C. Danel,et al.  Smoking and Interstitial Lung Disease , 1986 .

[4]  F. Basset,et al.  Chest radiological features of pulmonary histiocytosis X: a report based on 50 adult cases. , 1982, Thorax.

[5]  P. Friedman,et al.  Eosinophilic granuloma of lung. Clinical aspects of primary histiocytosis in the adult. , 1981, Medicine.

[6]  S. Nielsen,et al.  Pulmonary histiocytosis X. A review of 18 patients with reports of 6 cases. , 1969, The American journal of roentgenology, radium therapy, and nuclear medicine.

[7]  J. G. Lewis.  EOSINOPHILIC GRANULOMA AND ITS VARIANTS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LUNG INVOLVEMENT. A REPORT OF 12 PATIENTS. , 1964, The Quarterly journal of medicine.

[8]  E. Gaensler,et al.  Respiratory abnormalities in eosinophilic granuloma of the lung. Longterm study of five cases. , 1962, The New England journal of medicine.

[9]  R. Sellers,et al.  Pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma. , 1961, Diseases of the chest.

[10]  A. Williams,et al.  Pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma: a clinical and pathologic discussion. , 1961, Annals of internal medicine.

[11]  F. Ellis,et al.  Primary pulmonary histiocytosis X. , 1960, Diseases of the chest.