[Carcinomatous lymphangitis. Clinical study of 10 cases]

We analyze the clinical characteristics, the diagnostic criteria and the radiological aspects of 10 cases of Carcinomatous Lymphangitis. The quickly progressing exercise dyspnea and the constitutional syndrome were the most frequent symptoms. In nine patients, the tumor was previously unknown. The image methods (adbominal CAT and Echography) and the fibrobronchoscopic exam allowed a correct diagnosis. The most frequent neoplasia had a pulmonary origin and the most frequent histology was adenocarcinoma. The histological tests (bronchial and transbronchial biopsies) were more effective for the diagnosis than the cytological test (bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchoaspiration and bronchial brushing), although these were complemented. The radiology showed a reticulo-linear pattern in all the cases. The finding of macroscopic disorders in the fibrobronchoscopy, the presence of a local infiltration or a node/mass image in the thoracic radiography were highly suggestive of primary pulmonary neoplasia.