[Multiple bilateral pulmonary nodes following breast cancer]

Abstract

History and admission findings: Multiple new pulmonary nodules were demonstrated at chest radiography in a 69-year-old woman who had been treated for breast cancer ten years previously.

Investigations: Laboratory tests suggested mild inflammation. Pulmonary function tests demonstrated small airways disease. But because of an atypical morphology at computed tomography (CT), metastases were considered unlikely. CT-guided percutaneous biopsy revealed cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP).

Treatment and course: Oral medication with decreasing doses of steroids resulted in clinical and radiological improvement.

Conclusions: Even in a patient with known malignancy the differential diagnosis of multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules includes a variety of conditions and is meticulous, if necessary invasive diagnostic procedures are required.