Abstract

RODRIGUES, Susana et al. Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia: A Differential Diagnosis to Consider in the Oncology Context. Acta Radiol Port [online]. 2023, vol.35, n.3, pp.16-19.  Epub Dec 29, 2023. ISSN 2183-1351.  https://doi.org/10.25748/arp.27110.

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is an extremely rare disorder with strong female predominance. It is characterized by proliferation of neuroendocrine cells in the bronchial wall and is part of the spectrum of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors. It is considered a preinvasive condition for lung carcinoid tumors. Patients are either asymptomatic or present with non-specific symptoms, such as long-standing dyspnea or cough. In this review, we describe a case of DIPNECH in a 67-year-old female, non-smoker, with progressive dyspnea and history of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. High resolution chest computed tomography revealed diffuse mosaic attenuation pattern with air-trapping and multiple peribronchovascular solid nodules suspected of metastatic disease. The largest nodule was submitted to core-needle biopsy, which was compatible with neuroendocrine cells hyperplasia. After 4 years of follow-up, the same lung nodule grew and was again submitted to core-needle biopsy, which depicted findings consistent with typical carcinoid tumor.

Keywords : Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia; Carcinoid tumor; Computed Tomography; Lung disease..

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