Efficacy and safety of transbronchial lung biopsy for the diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis: A report of 24 consecutive patients

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and pregnancy: a mini-review

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM) is a slow progressive, rare cystic lung disease in women of reproductive age, associated with infiltration of the lung by atypical smooth muscle like cells, leading to the cystic destruction of the lung parenchyma. As LAM exclusively affects women of childbearing age, it can arise or exacerbate during pregnancy. Many patients with LAM are discouraged from pregnancy, although there is not much objective evidence effect on fertility. Patients diagnosed with LAM during pregnancy experience worse outcomes, so the safety of pregnancy is a vexing problem. What was worse, treatment strategies are limited on the effects of LAM on pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy could be considered in LAM patients. Successful delivery in women with LAM depends on the condition of the LAM, which is in turn dependent on obstetricians and respiratory physicians. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical features and the treatment strategies of LAM during pregnancy.

Safety and efficacy of cryobiopsy for the diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis compared with forceps biopsy and surgical lung biopsy

BACKGROUND

Transbronchial lung forceps biopsy (TBFB) is recommended before a surgical lung biopsy (SLB) when a definitive diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is required for patients without any additional confirmatory features. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBCB) has been suggested as replacement test in patients considered eligible to undergo SLB for the diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases. The efficacy and safety of TBCB were compared with that of TBFB and SLB in the diagnosis of LAM.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 207 consecutive patients suspected with LAM in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from 2005 to 2020.

RESULTS

The difference in diagnostic rate of patients suspected with LAM between TBCB (20/30, 66.7%) and TBFB (70/106, 66.0%) groups was not significant (p = 0.949). One patient performed TBCB with negative pathological results could be diagnosed exclusively after SLB. LAM diagnosis was confirmed by surgical pathological findings in 3 TBFB-negative patients. More patients with minimal cystic profusion were diagnosed with LAM by TBCB (5/19, 26.3%) and SLB (11/39, 28.2%) than by TBFB (3/61, 4.9%) (TBCB vs TBFB: p = 0.04, SLB vs TBFB, p < 0.001). The difference between the severity of cystic lung disease in patients diagnosed with LAM through TBCB and SLB was not significant (p > 0.05). One pneumothorax, 8 mild bleeding and 1 moderate bleeding were observed in TBCB. One pneumothorax, 15 mild bleeding and 1 moderate bleeding occurred after TBFB.

CONCLUSION

Compared to TBFB, TBCB is safe and effective in diagnosing LAM at a higher diagnostic rate in patients with minimal cystic profusion.

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis diagnosed using transbronchial lung cryobiopsy: A case report

A 63-year-old Japanese woman with multiple cysts in both lungs on chest computed tomography (CT) was referred to our hospital after a thorough examination, including a transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), failed to provide a diagnosis. Based on the findings on chest CT and pathological examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) specimen, the patient was diagnosed with pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH). TBLC may replace TBLB as the main diagnostic technique for PLCH, although further studies are required to determine the usefulness of TBLC for the diagnosis of PLCH.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is an ultra-rare, slowly progressive neoplastic cystic disease, belonging to the group of PEComas. It can occur sporadically or associated to tuberous sclerosis complex disease and affects mainly women in child-birth age. Dyspnoea is the most frequent symptom referred to the time of diagnosis, however spontaneous pneumothorax may be a typical presentation associated to extrathoracic manifestations, such as renal angiomyolipomas. In the last decade, important advances in understanding molecular mechanisms underlying the LAM pathogenesis have been reached. It has allowed to obtain improvements in the research of novel biomarkers, treatment and a better management of the disease.

Transbronchial cryobiopsy proven amyloid diffuse cystic lung disease complicating a transthyretin mutated (ATTRm) amyloidosis: a case report

We present a case report of transbronchial cryobiopsy proven diffuse amyloid cystic lung disease complicating a homozygous Val122Ile (V122I) transthyretin mutated amyloidosis (ATTRm). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature reporting such pulmonary lesions in ATTRm amyloidosis, and notably diagnosed through cryobiopsy. A 51-year-old man from Mali with a past medical history of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome presented erectile dysfunction, asthenia and worsening dyspnoea over the past year. He presented signs of cardiac failure; histological and radiological investigations diagnosed cardiac amyloidosis. He was found homozygote for the V122I mutation in transthyretin. A diffuse cystic lung disease (DCLD) was noted on computed tomography (CT) scan. We performed a transbronchial pulmonary cryobiopsy that revealed histological transthyretin amyloid deposits. This case report illustrates the safety and usefulness of cryobiopsy in the setting of DCLD and extends ATTRm amyloidosis as a possible cause of DCLD.

Reduced risk of recurrent pneumothorax for sirolimus therapy after surgical pleural covering of entire lung in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Background

Patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) frequently experience pneumothorax. Although sirolimus is the standard therapy for LAM, its effect on pneumothorax is controversial. Recently, total pleural covering (TPC) and modified TPC (mTPC) were introduced as surgical treatment options for pneumothorax for patients with LAM. However, the effect of sirolimus on the recurrence of pneumothorax in patients who underwent the treatments is still uncertain. We hypothesized that some clinical factors including sirolimus treatment could predict postoperative recurrence of pneumothorax. In order to clarify this hypothesis, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from 18 consecutive patients with LAM who underwent 24 surgical pleural covering of entire lung (SPC) as 17 TPC and 7 mTPC against pneumothoraces from surgical database between January 2005 and January 2019, and we determined the predictors of postoperative recurrence.

Results

Of the 24 surgeries of SPC, 14 surgeries (58.3%) had a history of two or more ipsilateral pneumothoraces, and 11 surgeries (45.8%) had a history of ipsilateral pleural procedures before SPC. Sixteen surgeries (66.6%) in 12 patients received treatment of sirolimus after SPC (sirolimus group). With a median follow-up time of 69.0 months after SPC, four surgeries (16.6%) in three patients had a postoperative recurrence, and the 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) after SPC was 82.9%. In patients with postoperative recurrence, serum level of vascular endothelial growth factors D was significantly higher than that in those with non-recurrence (3260.5 vs. 892.7 pg/mL, p = 0.02), and the rate of sirolimus treatment in the recurrence group was significantly lower than that in the no-recurrence group (0 vs. 80%, p = 0.006). The log-rank test showed that the RFS of the sirolimus group (sirolimus use after SPC) was significantly better than that of the non-sirolimus group (p = 0.001), and no significant difference was observed for other factors.

Conclusion

We first reported sirolimus might effectively suppress the recurrence of pneumothoraces in LAM patients who received SPC. Sirolimus induction after SPC (TPC or mTPC) might be a feasible option for frequent pneumothorax in LAM.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13023-021-02081-z.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and management

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a slowly progressive, low-grade, metastasising neoplasm of women, characterised by infiltration of the lung parenchyma with abnormal smooth muscle-like cells, resulting in cystic lung destruction. The invading cell in LAM arises from an unknown source and harbours mutations in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) genes that result in constitutive activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, dysregulated cellular proliferation, and a programme of frustrated lymphangiogenesis, culminating in disordered lung remodelling and respiratory failure. Over the past two decades, all facets of LAM basic and clinical science have seen important advances, including improved understanding of molecular mechanisms, novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, effective treatment strategies, and comprehensive clinical practice guidelines. Further research is needed to better understand the natural history of LAM; develop more powerful diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers; optimise the use of inhibitors of mTOR complex 1 in the treatment of LAM; and explore novel approaches to the development of remission-inducing therapies.

A 34-Year-Old Woman from Brazil with Pulmonary Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Diagnosed by Raised Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D) Levels and Lung Cysts on Computed Tomography Imaging Presenting with COVID-19 Pneumonia

Patient: Female, 34-year-old

Final Diagnosis: COVID-19 • lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Symptoms: Dyspnea • fever • hypoxemia • myalgia

Medication: Sirolimus

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Pulmonology

The value of transbronchial lung biopsy in the diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis

BACKGROUND

Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) in the diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is not a common approach, although TBLB is often performed in diffuse lung diseases. We aimed to examine the diagnostic value and safety of TBLB in LAM patients based on the data collected in our center.

METHODS

We reviewed LAM patients registered in our LAM Clinic from December 8, 2006, to December 31, 2019. All patients with definite or probable diagnosis of LAM who had been examined using TBLB were included. All available pathology slides were reviewed by an experienced LAM pathologist. All complications were reviewed by the medical records and confirmed using telephone interviews.

RESULTS

The pathology results of 86 patients (including 74 definite LAM and 12 probable LAM) were available. The positive rate of TBLB in LAM patients was 49/86 (57.0%). The positive rates of SMA, HMB-45, ER, and PR in LAM patients were 97.6%, 93%, 84.6%, and 78.4% respectively. The positive rate of TBLB was 40%, 60% and 60.8% in patients with CT Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III respectively, and the difference was not significant. Patients who had 3-4 or 5-6 biopsied specimens had a higher rate of diagnosis than those with 1-2 biopsied specimens. Four patients (5.6%) reported pneumothorax. No major hemoptysis was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

TBLB is a feasible and safe procedure for obtaining a pathological diagnosis of LAM. Taking more than 2 samples during the biopsy procedure increased the rate of diagnosis.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a clinical review

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a diffuse cystic lung disease. There are two main types of LAM: sporadic, and LAM associated with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), which is caused by mutations in the TSC1 and TSC2 genes. LAM is characterised by cystic lung disease resulting in progressive dyspnoea, renal angiomyolipomas and lymphatic complications. Pneumothorax occurs frequently (70%) and definitive management with pleurodesis is recommended as the risk of recurrence is high. Characteristic thin-walled cysts are seen on computed tomography and the presence of elevated serum levels of a vascular endothelial growth factor-D has good diagnostic specificity. Currently, no single clinical or serological factor has been shown to predict prognosis. However, over the past decade, significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of LAM has led to improved recognition of this rare disease and identification of treatment options. Mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors slow the rate of lung function decline and can resolve chylous effusion and regress angiomyolipomas. Life expectancy in patients with LAM is favourable, with a mean transplant-free survival >20 years from the time of diagnosis. Continued advances in understanding the molecular basis of LAM will lead to improved therapeutic targets and the development of more robust prognostic indicators.

Educational aims

To illustrate the clinical features, common presentations and radiological features of LAMTo outline the diagnostic approach to LAM, including the role of VEGF-DTo review the current prognostic indicators in LAM, and outline the impact of lung function, hormonal status, VEGF-D and clinical presentation on outcomeTo inform clinicians on the management options for LAM both pharmacological and nonpharmacological.

Usefulness and safety of transbronchial biopsy with large forceps during flexible bronchoscopy

Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) using forceps is one of the most common procedures used to obtain lung tissue. The procedure's usefulness remains limited when diagnosing interstitial lung diseases. This retrospective descriptive study analyzed the feasibility and safety of using large forceps for TBLB in all patients who underwent TBLB from 2014 to 2018 for diffuse lung disease where the diagnosis could not be made by high-resolution chest computed tomography. We excluded patients with radiographic features of usual interstitial pneumonia. Among the 35 study patients, 7 were men and 28 were women. Diagnoses included respiratory associated bronchiolitis (7), diffuse alveolar damage (4), organizing pneumonia (4), nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis (3), acute fibrinous organizing pneumonia (3), sarcoidosis (2), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (2), IgG4 interstitial lung disease (1), eosinophilic pneumonia (1), pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (1), pulmonary fibrosis (1), pneumocystis (1), plasma-rich bronchiolitis (1), and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (1). In three cases, the biopsies were nondiagnostic. Two patients developed a pneumothorax, and one required chest tube placement. There was one episode of minor bleeding. No escalation of care or hospitalization was required. Large-forceps TBLB is a feasible and safe method for obtaining parenchymal lung biopsies.

Transbronchial lung biopsy for the diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis: the severity of cystic lung destruction assessed by the modified Goddard scoring system as a predictor for establishing the diagnosis

Background

A guide of patient selection for establishing the diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) has not been established, although the pathological confirmation of LAM by lung biopsy is desirable, particularly when patients have no additional test results except typical findings of computed tomography (CT) of the chest.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of LAM patients who visited at our hospital from January 2010 to September 2018. We found 19 patients who underwent TBLB and collected the following data to investigate which parameters could predict the TBLB diagnostic positivity for LAM: age, degree of exertional dyspnea, pulmonary function test, cystic lung destruction visually assessed by the modified Goddard scoring system (MGS), serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor-D, and TBLB-related data.

Results

The diagnosis of LAM was established by TBLB in 15 of 19 patients (78.9%) and no serious complications occurred. MGS was significantly higher in the TBLB-positive group than the TBLB-negative group. In LAM patients without pulmonary lymphatic congestion on CT (N = 16), multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that MGS and FEV₁/FVC were independent contributing parameters for TBLB diagnostic positivity. However, the analysis of Bayesian inference demonstrated that MGS is a better predictor than FEV₁/FVC; the probability of establishing diagnosis exceeds 80% if MGS is > 2 (i.e., area of cystic destruction occupies > 25% of lung parenchyma on CT).

Conclusions

MGS may be a helpful and convenient tool to select candidates for TBLB to establish the diagnosis of LAM pathologically.

Diagnostic usefulness of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy in two patients mildly affected with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Transbronchial lung biopsy is a non-invasive technique used primarily for the pathological diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). However, some cases, particularly those with early-stage lung lesions, are difficult to diagnose because of the specimen size and presence of artifacts. Herein, we present two cases of LAM with relatively mild cystic changes in the lungs and slight impairment seen in pulmonary function tests. Both patients were diagnosed pathologically through transbronchial lung cryobiopsy. These cases indicate that transbronchial lung cryobiopsy is a useful tool for diagnosing early-stage pulmonary LAM owing to its appropriate specimen size for detecting LAM cells and few crush artifacts.

Successful Sirolimus Treatment of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a Hepatitis B Virus Carrier

A 34-year-old woman experiencing shortness of breath was referred to our hospital. The patient was diagnosed with sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis based on the observation of bilateral diffuse multiple thin-walled cysts on computed tomography of the chest, chylous effusion, elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor-D levels and transbronchial biopsy findings. This patient was a hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier. Treatment with 1 mg daily of sirolimus was started after HBV DNA was brought below the cut-off level using entecavir. Sirolimus was effective, as the chylous effusion resolved completely and the dyspnea improved. The sirolimus dosage was increased to 2 mg daily without causing HBV reactivation.

Age-related differences in the clinical features of ocular sarcoidosis

The distribution of age at diagnosis in ocular sarcoidosis has shifted towards the older age groups in developed countries. In systemic sarcoidosis, age-related differences in the clinical presentation, which reflect the therapeutic strategies, was reported. We retrospectively compared 100 consecutive patients from April 2010 to March 2016 who were initially diagnosed with ocular sarcoidosis by International Workshop on Ocular Sarcoidosis criteria. They were classified into elder (>65 years: 50 patients) and younger (≤65 years: 50 patients) groups by the age at diagnosis of uveitis associated with sarcoidosis. All patients received ophthalmic examination to assess the presence of seven intraocular signs and 4 laboratory parameters. Significantly fewer ocular signs (2.8 ± 1.5 and 3.6 ± 1.5; P = 0.0034) and abnormal laboratory results (1.5 ± 1.2 and 2.0 ± 1.2; P = 0.023) were detected in the elder group than in the younger group; statistical differences were found between the groups regarding the frequencies of mutton-fat keratic precipitates (40% and 64%; P = 0.012), vitreous opacities (60% and 78%; P = 0.0059), bilateral inflammation (64% and 80%; P = 0.012), and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy between the groups (52% and 78%; P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed negative correlations between age and number of detected ocular signs (r = −0.36, P < 0.001) and laboratory results (r = −0.20, P = 0.023). The characteristic ocular signs and abnormal laboratory results had a lower frequency in the elder patients compared with the younger patients. Probable or possible ocular sarcoidosis by the international criteria should increase with increased life expectancy in developed countries.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Diagnosis and Management: High-Resolution Chest Computed Tomography, Transbronchial Lung Biopsy, and Pleural Disease Management. An Official American Thoracic Society/Japanese Respiratory Society Clinical Practice Guideline

BACKGROUND

Recommendations regarding key aspects related to the diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) were recently published. We now provide additional recommendations regarding four specific questions related to the diagnosis of LAM and management of pneumothoraces in patients with LAM.

METHODS

Systematic reviews were performed and then discussed by a multidisciplinary panel. For each intervention, the panel considered its confidence in the estimated effects, the balance of desirable (i.e., benefits) and undesirable (i.e., harms and burdens) consequences, patient values and preferences, cost, and feasibility. Evidence-based recommendations were then formulated, written, and graded using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach.

RESULTS

For women who have cystic changes on high-resolution computed tomography of the chest characteristic of LAM, but who have no additional confirmatory features of LAM (i.e., clinical, radiologic, or serologic), the guideline panel made conditional recommendations against making a clinical diagnosis of LAM on the basis of the high-resolution computed tomography findings alone and for considering transbronchial lung biopsy as a diagnostic tool. The guideline panel also made conditional recommendations for offering pleurodesis after an initial pneumothorax rather than postponing the procedure until the first recurrence and against pleurodesis being used as a reason to exclude patients from lung transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with LAM are provided. Frequent reassessment and updating will be needed.