Tracheobronchitis and laryngitis associated with Crohn's disease.

We report a 68-year-old woman with tracheobronchitis and laryngitis associated with Crohn's disease (CD), which was discovered during the evaluation of suspected lung cancer. She had no symptoms induced by these upper airway diseases (UADs). Bronchoscopy revealed swelling of the epiglottis with edematous change and a mass like epiglottis fold. There were nodular and edematous changes in the trachea and bilateral main bronchus. Histological findings demonstrated infiltration by numerous lymphocytes and plasma cells. Dexamethasone as the premedication for chemotherapy against lung cancer was efficacious for these extraintestinal manifestations of CD. Our case was rare in that bronchial lesion and UADs appeared concomitantly.

BNT162b2 coronavirus disease-2019 vaccination accelerated rheumatoid arthritis disease activity in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: A case report.

RATIONALE: The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and eosinophilic inflammation is unclear. According to recent studies, it has been suggested that T helper 2 cell responses play a role in the inhibition of RA. It is unclear how the immunological response after coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination affects T cell immune reactions. PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES: Here, we report the case of an 88-year-old woman diagnosed with RA and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP). She was diagnosed with CEP about 20 years ago, and, through steroid treatment, she improved and had no relapse for 16 years. At the time of diagnosis of CEP, the rheumatoid factor (RF) was increased; however, there were no joint symptoms. After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, joint and respiratory symptoms gradually worsened. Laboratory examinations showed increased RF, anti-cyclin citrullinated peptide antibody, and peripheral absolute eosinophil count. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography showed synovitis. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Methylprednisolone pulse therapy improved respiratory and joint symptoms immediately; RA and CEP stabilized with no relapses. LESSONS: Eosinophilic and rheumatoid reactions following COVID-19 vaccination were an-reported adverse events. Eosinophilic inflammation might be reflected on an anti-inflammatory reaction in initial phase of RA.

Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with interstitial lung disease double-positive for anti-MDA5 and anti-PL12 antibodies.

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibodies are two major myositis-specific autoantibodies with distinct clinical features. However, the clinical course remains unclear in patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM)-interstitial lung disease (ILD) who have co-existing anti-MDA5 and anti-ARS antibodies. Here, we describe the case of a 32-year-old woman with CADM-ILD who had anti-MDA5 and anti-PL12 antibodies. Her serum ferritin level was within the normal range. However, chest computed tomography revealed bilateral lower-lobe consolidation and ground-glass opacities. Treatment with prednisolone and immunosuppressants was successful in improving the skin lesion and ILD, but relapse occurred on reducing the dose of prednisolone. These clinical features match those of anti-ARS antibody-positive dermatomyositis-ILD. Because these two conditions show significantly different clinical features and require different intensities of treatment, clinicians should carefully follow-up these patients throughout the course of the disease.

Multicentric Castleman disease with infiltration of eosinophils to the lung.

A 41-year-old man presented with multiple superficial lymph nodes (LNs) swollen with elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G4 and C-reactive protein. Histological findings of his left inguinal LN revealed lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with numerous IgG4-positive plasma cells; IgG4+/IgG+ plasma cell ratio >40%. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed poorly defined centrilobular nodules, interlobular septal thickening, consolidations, and mediastinal LNs swelling. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) showed elevated eosinophils. A surgical lung biopsy showed focal dense eosinophil infiltration, in addition to lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, but few IgG4+ plasma cells. The diagnosis of multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) was made because of serum interleukin-6elevation. Treatment with prednisolone and tocilizumab improved his symptoms and lung lesions. This case shows that overlapping clinical and pathological features of MCD and IgG4-related disease may present in a single patient, showing the difficulty in distinguishing between these two diseases.

Endobronchial Small-cell Lung Cancer with Intraluminal Growth Pattern Showing "Finger-in-glove" Appearance.

Invasion of the endobronchial mucosa by cancer cells is frequently seen in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but an intraluminal polypoid growth pattern is extremely rare. We herein describe the case of a 69-year-old woman with limited-stage SCLC who had a pedunculated mass in the orifice of the right upper bronchus. Thin-section CT of the lung showed an endobronchial protruding mass accompanied by tubular and branching opacities (the so-called finger-in-glove sign) in the right upper lobe bronchus, which were enhanced by contrast media. She responded well to chemotherapy with concurrent radiation therapy. Although very rare, SCLC patients can have intraluminal polypoid growth, as was observed in this case.