[A case of pulmonary MALT lymphoma with multiple nodules and ground-glass opacities]

An asymptomatic 77-year-old woman was referred in 2000 because multiple nodular shadows were found on chest X-ray films on a medical checkup. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral multiple ground-glass opacities and ill-defined nodules. A transbronchial lung biopsy was performed via bronchoscopy, but the specimens did not yield any specific findings. She was then monitored without therapy as an outpatient. In November 2005, chest CT imaging showed that the size and density of the ground-glass opacities and nodules had increased. In January, 2006 video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was performed to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Based on histological and immunohistochemical examinations, primary pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma was diagnosed. She has been followed up without any additional treatment since.

Multiple ground glass opacities and nodules are rare chest CT findings in pulmonary MALT lymphoma.