[Clinicopathological analysis of 6 cases of diffuse panbronchiolitis].

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical and pathological characteristics of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB).

METHODS

Clinical history of six cases of DPB and their pathological slides were studied and analyzed.

RESULTS

Diffuse panbronchiolitis was characterized by chronic recurrent nasosinusitis and pulmonary infection and respiratory bronchiolitis. Pathologically, all layers of the respiratory bronchiole walls were involved. Prominent chronic inflammation with lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes infiltration was noted in all cases. In the lumens of the bronchioles, PMN or mucus could be identified. The chronic inflammatory cell infiltration also contained numerous foamy macrophages within the walls of the small bronchioles and in the stroma of the lung as well. Among the 6 cases of DPB, two cases were associated with thymoma.

CONCLUSIONS

DPB is a distinct clinicopathological entity. Open lung biopsy or thorocoscopic biopsy is necessary for the correct diagnosis of clinical atypical DPB cases.