Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia, and sarcoidosis: more pathological findings in the same chest CT, or a single pathological pathway?

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune hepatitis/primary biliary cirrhosis overlap syndrome, lymphangioleiomyomatosis/tuberous sclerosis complex (LAM-TSC), and sarcoidosis are three rare diseases. Here we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first description of a patient with the coexistence of these three diseases.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old woman affected by LAM-TSC and primary biliary cirrosis/autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome. During her follow up a high resolution chest CT scan (HRTC) confirmed the presence of both multiple cysts and micronodular opacities consistent with multifocal micronodular pneumocytes hyperlasia (MMPH), and revealed multiple hilar-mediastinal symmetrical lymphadenopathies suggestive of sarcoidosis. Simultaneously, subcutaneous nodules appeared on her forearm bilaterally. Cutaneous biopsy showed granulomatous dermatitis with sarcoid-like granulomas. A diagnosis of stage I pulmonary sarcoidosis was made. No treatment for sarcoidosis was initiated since the patient had neither systemic involvement, nor respiratory impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of more than one rare disease should challenge the concept of a potential common underlying mechanism, since the a priori probability of the concomitant presence of different conditions with different pathogenic mechanisms - especially if rare diseases - is low. We speculate that the dysregulation of the pathway involving mTOR and MAPK and their interaction might play a role in the pathogenesis of other diseases, including sarcoidosis.