[Diffuse panbronchiolitis complicated by thymoma: a case report and a review of literature]

To highlight the characteristics of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB).

One patient with DPB confirmed by thorocoscopic biopsy was described and relevant literatures were reviewed.

DPB is a chronic lower respiratory tract disease common in Japanese, rare in China, characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells around bronchioles. Although the etiology and precise mechanisms are under investigation, it is commonly hypothesized that heredity and immunity have a major role in DPB. Symptoms include cough, expectoration, and dyspnea after exercises. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is isolated from sputum in some cases. If left untreated, DPB progresses rapidly and has a poor prognosis if respiratory failure occurs.

DPB should be included in the differential diagnosis of bilateral multiple pulmonary nodular shadows. Long-term, low-dose macrolide therapy may improve the prognosis through an anti-inflammatory effect.