Pulmonary Capillary Hemangiomatosis without Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Mimicking Interstitial Lung Disease

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare disease usually associated with pulmonary hypertension which is classified in group I as per the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It is commonly presented as effort intolerance and hypoxia. Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis can present with ground-glass opacity on chest radiograph which can mimic interstitial lung disease. We need to consider PCH also in the differential diagnosis of interstitial shadows with these clinical presentations and should consider diagnostic evaluation for the same in case of unsatisfactory clinic-radiological response to treatment. We describe a case presented and treated as interstitial lung disease, which turned out to be PCH on lung biopsy. Interestingly, the case was not associated with any evidence of PAH.

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis: a lesson learned

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare and controversial entity that is known to be a cause of pulmonary hypertension and is microscopically characterized by proliferation of dilated capillary-sized channels along and in the alveolar walls. Clinically, it is mostly seen in adults. Clinical features are characterized by nonspecific findings such as shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, and fatigue. It can be clinically indistinguishable from pre-capillary pulmonary arterial hypertension disorders such as primary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. However, the diagnostic distinction, which usually requires a multidisciplinary approach, is crucial in order to avoid inappropriate treatment with vasodilator medications usually used for PAH treatment. Prognosis of PCH remains poor with lung transplant being the only definitive treatment. We report an autopsy case of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis unmasked at autopsy that was treated with a prostacyclin analog, usually contraindicated in such patients. We emphasize that this entity should always be on the differential diagnosis in a patient with pulmonary hypertension and requires great vigilance on the part of the clinician, radiologist and pathologist to make the diagnosis and guide appropriate management.

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease/pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis: A case report and literature review / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD)/pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare form of pulmonary vascular disease that causes pulmonary arterial hypertension.The diagnosis of PVOD/PCH can be established by the combination of clinical features,physical examination,radiological findings,lung function,bronchoscopy and other resources.There is no established medical therapy for PVOD/PCH,and the only curative therapy for PVOD/PCH is lung transplantation.A girl with PVOD/PCH was diagnosed in the Second Xiangya Hospital.Combining the characteristics for this case with the relevant literature,we summarized the epidemiology,etiology,diagnosis and treatment for the disease to raise doctors' awareness for this rare disease.

Hemangiomatosis capilar pulmonar congénita en un recién nacido / Congenital pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis in a newborn

La hemangiomatosis capilar pulmonar es una entidad poco frecuente, caracterizada por la proliferación de capilares que infiltran paredes alveolares, septos interlobulillares, pleura e intersticio pulmonar, sin características de malignidad, con asociación casi constante a hipertensión pulmonar. Hasta el momento, solo se han reportado en la literatura, dos casos de presentación congénita; este es el tercer caso en un recién nacido y que no se asocia a hipertensión pulmonar. Esta se encuentra en la mayoría de los pacientes con dicha patología, con mayor incidencia entre los 20 y los 40 años de edad. Se presenta a un recién nacido pretérmino de 36 semanas de gestación con dificultad respiratoria progresiva, que requirió asistencia ventilatoria mecánica por desaturaciones constantes en su evolución clínica, sin signos clínicos, radiológicos o ecográficos de hipertensión pulmonar.

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis is a rare entity characterized by the proliferation of capillaries into alveolar walls, interlobular septa, pleura and pulmonary interstitium, without malignant characteristics, with almost constant association with pulmonary hypertension. Until now two cases of congenital presentation have been reported in the literature. This is the third case in a newborn; he has not followed the usual pattern associated with pulmonary hypertension as occurs in most patients with this pathology; the highest incidence is among 20-40 years old. We report a preterm newborn patient of 36 weeks of gestation with progressive respiratory distress requiring mechanical ventilation by constant desaturation during his clinical evolution without clinical, radiological or ultrasonographic signs of pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis:a case report and literature review / 北京大学学报(医学版)

We reported a case of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) and introduced its diag-nosis, differential diagnosis, pathogenesis and development of treatment based on the review of Dana Point 2008 Classification of Pulmonary Hypertensiona and current literatures .A 43-year-old female presented progressive dyspnea, elevated pulmonary arterial pressures and CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) imaging of main pulmonary arterial enlargement and wide spread ill -defined centrilobular nodules of ground-glass opacity.Her histologic features were proliferation of capillary channels within alveolar walls as well as muscularization of arterioles and medial hypertrophy of muscular pulmonary arteries.The treatment with diuretics and warfarin was used promptly , but unfortunately was ineffective. The patient died three months after diagnosis .PCH is a very rare vascular disease with poor prognosis . The diagnosis of PCH rests on the integration of clinical and radiographic information with pathologic fea -tures, however pathology is the most reliable means .Because clinical symptoms, imaging and histological features of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) and PCH broadly overlap, differential diagnosis should be made carefully.Among the various pathologic features proliferation of capillaries within alveolar walls is the key point for diagnosing PCH , which is also the most critical criteria for differentiating PCH from PVOD.So far the only definitive treatment for PCH is lung transplantation , without which the pa-tient will die several months after diagnosis .