[Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma mimicking hypersensitivity pneumonitis]. / Hémangioendothéliome épithélioïde pulmonaire mimant une pneumopathie d'hypersensibilité

Epithelioid haemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular tumour of slow growth and unfavourable outcome. The diagnosis of the pulmonary localisation is difficult and can mimic by clinical and radiological features other diagnosis as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. We report the case of a 28-year-old man, farmer handling with palm tree pollens, admitted to the hospital for dry cough. Clinical and thoracic computed tomography findings revealed diffuse infiltrating pneumopathy; bronchoalveolar lavage results and professional exposure were suggestive for hypersensivity pneumonitis. Surgical lung biopsy with immunochemistry study concluded to pulmonary epithelioid haemangioendothelioma. Extra pulmonary localisation research was negative. No treatment was indicated. At three years, the patient is steel asymptomatic. Epithelioid haemangioendothelioma is a tumour of intermediate malignancy, of which pulmonary localisation has a nonspecific clinical presentation mimicking diffuse infiltrating pneumonitis. Diagnosis is essentially made by surgical lung biopsy with pathological and immunohistochemical study.