• Sarcoidosis masquerading as eosinophilic pneumonia
SANDRA K. WILLSIE-EDIGER, DO GARY A. SALZMAN, MD WILLIAM P. SCHAETZEL, DO
A 29-year-old woman pre nosis without biopsy.1,2 We describe the clini sented with progressive dyspnea, fever, cal course of a patient with roentgenographic cough, and weight loss. A chest roent and clinical features compatible with CEP in genogram revealed bilateral peripheral in whom a trial of corticosteroids did not support filtrates suggestive of chronic eosinophilic the diagnosis. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed by pneumonia. Bronchoscopic evaluation, as findings observed in tissue recovered at open well as a therapeutic trial of cortico lung biopsy. steroids, was nondiagnostic. Open lung bi opsy revealed findings consistent with a Report of case diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Roentgenographi A 29-year-old woman was hospitalized with a 1- cally, differentiating between sarcoidosis month history of cough, progressive dyspnea, chest and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia can tightness, low-grade fevers, generalized malaise, be difficult. A diagnostic approach, as well and an associated 3-kg weight loss. The patient de scribed her cough as initially nonproductive, chang as the differential diagnosis of bilateral pe ing to productive 2 weeks before admission. She ripheral pulmonary infiltrates, is dis reported no other significant symptoms. cussed. The patient denied using any prescription medi (Key words: Sarcoidosis, eosinophilic cations. She said she had used an over-the-counter pneumonia, pulmonary infiltrates) cold preparation on two occasions before admission. She reported 25 pack-years of tobacco use and the Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), as episodic use of free-base cocaine and marijuana. first described by Carrington and associates Her occupational history was unremarkable; the in 1969,1 is associated with characteristic pe patient had previously been employed only as a wait ress. ripheral pulmonary infiltrates described as the She had a temperature of 99.4°F and a respira "photographic negative" of pulmonary edema. tory rate of 24 per minute; chest examination re It has been suggested that typical roentgenogra vealed diffuse expiratory wheezing. The patient's phic findings in combination with compatible admission chest roentgenogram is shown in Fig clinical features and a rapid therapeutic re ure 1. Results of an intermediate-strength purified sponse to corticosteroids may permit the diag- protein derivative skin test were negative; delayed hypersensitivity responses to candida and mumps Dr Willsie-Ediger is assistant professor and Dr Salzman antigens were intact. is associate professor of medicine and pulmonary dis eases, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kan The patient's complete blood cell count revealed sas City, Mo, and Dr Schaetzel is assistant professor of a total white blood cell count of 5.9 x 103 cells/ pathology, University of Health Sciences, College of Os mm3 with 4 eosinophils, 49 segmented neutrophils, teopathic Medicine, Kansas City, Mo. 42 lymphocytes, 4 monocytes, and 1 basophil. Ar Reprint requests to Sandra K. Willsie-Ediger, DO, Uni terial blood gases on room air revealed a pH of7 .44, versity of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 2411 Holmes, Kansas City, Mo 64108. a PaC02 of 35 mm Hg, and a PaC02 of 90 mm Hg.
Case report· Willsie-Ediger et a l JAOA • Vol 92 • No 6 • June 1992 • 795 remained stable clinically and by pulmonary func tion testing.
Discussion Since its description in 1969,1 CEP has been considered diagnosable when the classic roent genographic findings described as the "photo graphic negative" of pulmonary edema are seen in association with typical clinical fea tures,1.3 including fever, dyspnea, productive cough, and weight loss. Recent reviews, how ever, have suggested that the typical roent genographic features of CEP may be present in only one fourth of the cases, and that, in fact, the chest roentgenogram may be entirely Figure 1. Posteroanterior chest roentgenogram reveal normaP ing bilateral peripheral infiltrates (with upper lobe pre The differential diagnosis of peripheral pul dominance) in the absence of hilar or mediastinal ade monary infiltrates (in addition to CEP) in nopathy. cludes Loeffler's syndrome, mycobacterial and fungal diseases, periarteritis nodosa, Churg The serum angiotensin-converting enzyme level Strauss vasculitis, lymphoma, eosinophilic was 48 U/L (normal, 8 to 53 U/Ll, and sputum ex granuloma, desquamative interstitial pneumo amination failed to reveal typical or atypical patho nitis, pneumonitis or fibrosis complicating ax gens. Results of pulmonary function studies were illary radiation, bronchiolitis obliterans organ within normal limits, with the exception of a total izingpneumonia (HOOP), and sarcoidosis. 1·3,6,7 lung capacity of 4.0 L (69% of predicted values) and Common chest roentgenographic features of a diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of 55% sarcoidosis have been described, including tho of predicted values. racic lymphadenopathy with or without par Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and enchymal infiltrates.8,g Uncommonly, periph transbronchial biopsies was performed. The bron eral pulmonary infiltrates may be seen in sar choalveolar lavage was performed in the posterior coidosis which resemble those seen typically segment of the right upper lobe with less than 25% in CEP.7,lO Glazer and associates7 delineated return of instilled fluid. The bronchoalveolar lav age differential revealed 84% macrophages, 13% several roentgenographic features useful in dis lymphocytes, and 3% eosinophils. Results of spe tinguishing between these two diseases. These cial stains for acid fast, fungal, and parasitic mi features include adenopathy and a nodular qual croorganisms (as subsequent culture results) were ity of the infiltrates, the presence of which is negative. The transbronchial biopsies were remark more suggestive of a diagnosis of sarcoidosis able only for the finding of a single noncaseating than of CEP.7 granuloma. Our patient had clinical and roentgenogra Therapy was instituted with prednisone, 40 mg phic features compatible with a diagnosis of daily, and maintained for 3 weeks. The patient's CEP. Results of the transbronchial biopsies, symptoms and roentgenographic abnormalities per which revealed a single noncaseating gran sisted despite this therapy. The prednisone ther uloma, and the lack of peripheral eosinophilia, apy was discontinued, and an open lung biopsy of did not initially dissuade us from this diagno the left upper lobe was performed. Grossly, diffuse parenchymal nodularity extending to the pleura sis because a lack of peripheral eosino was found. Histopathologic findings included mul philia,1,3,4 as well as the presence of noncase tiple non caseating granulomas, asteroid bodies, and ating granulomas,1,4 has been described in interstitial fibrosis (Figure 2). These findings were CEP. consistent with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. In addition, the bronchoalveolar lavage dif At long term follow-up (36 months), the patient ferential was made suspect by the poor return
796 • JAOA • Vol 92 • No 6 • June 1992 Case report· Willsie·Ediger et a l Figure 2. Open lung biopsy specimen revealing a noncaseating granuloma and an aster oid body (arrow), consistent with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis (original magnification x 1000). of instilled fluid. The absence of adenopathy has been described.13.14 Bronchoalveolar lav and the nodularity of the infiltrates seen on age eosinophil counts i.n five untreated CEP chest roentgenogram also suggested a diagno patients ranged from 14% to 75% as reported sis of CEP as opposed to sarcoidosis when by Dejaegher and Demedts.!4 In sarcoidosis, Glazer's criteria were used.7 The absence of bronchoalveolar lavage findings are extremely a response to corticosteroids led us to perform variable and are dependent on both the activ an open lung biopsy; hence, a diagnosis of sar ity and stage of the disease.15 Bronchoalveo coidosis was confirmed. lar lavage differentials from patients with sar The use of free-base cocaine has been asso coidosis, as opposed to those from patients with ciated with significant respiratory complica CEP, rarely include significant numbers of tions and has been the subject of a recent re eosinophils. view.!l Hypersensitivity pneumonitis has been Certainly, when bronchoalveolar lavage or reported as a complication of this form of sub transbronchial biopsy or both are nondiagnos stance abuse12; typical features include fever, tic for CEP or when the disease course does transient pulmonary infiltrates, eosinophilia, not respond to a trial of corticosteroids, open and bronchospasm temporally linked to the in lung biopsy is indicated to rule out other pa halation of cocaine. In addition, BOOP has thologic entities that may require alternative been associated with free-base cocaine use. As modes of therapy. Additional information pro previously indicated, BOOP has also been re vided by open lung biopsy is often related to ported to exhibit peripheral pulmonary infil the larger tissue sampling available from trates.6 It is unlikely, however, that either of grossly abnormal regions oflung parenchyma, these reported complications was a factor in as opposed to the random small samples re this case because the clinical and pathologic trieved by transbronchial biopsy. findings are not supportive of either diagnosis. The utility of bronchoscopy and, in particu Comment lar, bronchoalveolar lavage in diagnosing CEP As illustrated by this case, the absence of ade-
Case report • Willsie-Ediger et al JAOA • Vol 92 • No 6 • June 1992 • 797 nopathy or a nodular quality ofthe peripheral chest roentgenogram. Arch Intern Med 1989;1 49:273-279. 7. Glazer HS, Levitt RG, Shackelford GD: Peripheral pulmo infiltrates may not mitigate against the diag nary infiltrates in sarcoidosis. Chest 1984;86:741-744. nosis of sarcoidosis in favor of CEP as has been 8. Ellis K, Renthal G: Pulmonary sarcoidosis: Roentgenogra suggested. Although these criteria may be use phic observations on course of disease. Am J Roentgenol Ra ful clinically, they should not be regarded as dium Therapy Nuclear Med 1962;88:1070-1083. 9. Kirks DR, McCormick VD, Greenspan RH: Pulmonary sar all-inclusive. coidosis: Roentgenologic analysis of 150 patients. Am J Roent genol Rad Therapy Nuclear Med 1973;117:777-786. 10. Sharma OP: Sarcoidosis: Unusual pulmonary manifesta tions. Postgrad Med 1977 ;61:67-73. 1. Carrington CB, Addington WW, (;Q1f AM, et al: Chronic eosin· 11. Ettinger NA, Albin RJ: A review of the respiratory effects ophilic pneumonia. N Engl J Med 1969;280:787-798. of smoking cocaine. Am J Med 1989;87 :664-668. 2. Dines DE: Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: A roentgenogra 12. Kissner DG, Lawrence WD, Selis JE, et al: Crack lung: Pul phic diagnosis. Mayo Clin Proc 1978;53: 129-130. monary diseases caused by cocaine abuse. Am R ev R espir Dis 3. Gaensler EA, Carrington CB: Peripheral opacities in chronic 1987 ;136: 1250-1252. eosinophilic pneumonia: The photographic negative of pulmo 13. Lieske TR, Sunderrajan EV, Passamonte PM: Bronchoalveo nary edema. Am J Roentgenol 1977;128:1-13. lar lavage and technetium-99m glucoheptonate imaging in 4. Jederlinic JP, Sicilian L, Gaensler EA: Chronic eosinophilic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Chest 1984;85 :282-284. pneumonia. Medicine 1988;67:154-162. 14. Dejaegher P, Demedts M: Bronchoalveolar lavage in eosin 5. Dejaegher P, Derveaux L, Dubois P, et al: Eosinophilic pneu ophilic pneumonia before and during corticosteroid therapy. Am monia without radiographic pulmonary infiltrates. Chest Rev R espir Dis 1984;129:631-632. 1983;84:637 -638. 15. Ceuppens NL, Lacquet LM, Marien G, et al: Alveolar T-cell 6. Bartter T, Irwin RS, Nash G, et al: Idiopathic bronchiolitis subsets in pulmonary sarcoidosis. Am R ev R espir Dis obliterans organizing pneumonia with peripheral infiltrates on 1984;129:563-568.
798 • JAOA • Vol 92 • No 6 • June 1992 Case report • Willsie-Ediger et al