[A case of chronic pigeon breeder's lung]

Abstract

The patient, a 59-year-old woman, was admitted for further evaluation after a routine checkup in 1990 revealed an interstitial shadow chronic hypersensitivity pneumonia caused by her pigeons, was diagnosed. The patient later disposed of the pigeons and henhouse, where upon, she experienced dyspnea on exertion. In January 1995, the patient was admitted to our hospital with a progressive pulmonary interstitial shadow. Lung biopsy after thoracoscopic surgery revealed centrilobular fibrotic lesions, as well as, small honeycomb-like and granulomatous lesions. An antibody to the pigeon serum was detected in the patient's serum by the ouchterlony method. Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonia caused by pigeons is rare, and previously documented histological findings are few.