ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo comprehend the clinical presentation s of systemic amyloidosis in respiratory tract MethodsThe rec ords of all patients with biopsy-confirmed systemic amyloidosis admitted to our hospital between 1985 and 2003 were retrospectively reviewed All relevant info rmations of respiratory tract,such as clinical,image,and demographic,were an alyzed ResultsAmong 46 cases of systemic amyloidosis,respira tory amyloidosis was diagnosed in 37 patients (27 men and 10 men) clinically,in vovling upper respiratory tract,tracheobronchial,lung parenchyma,pleura,medi asteinal and hilar,with a mean age of 51 49 years 12 cases were confirmed by the characteristic Congo-red staining of respiratory biopsies The most common sites at presentation were lung parenchyma and pleura ConclusionsThe respiratory tract was involved in about 80 4% of patients with systemic amylodosis meaning a higher prevalence than previously reported It is necessar y to pay more attention to respiratory amyloidosis to diagnose and treat early