Diffuse large cell lymphoma of the lung: an unusual cause of complete opacification of the hemithorax.

Complete opacification on chest radiographs may be due to collapse of the lung, consolidation, massive pleural effusion, empyema, hemothorax, chylothorax, fibrothorax, and other causes. We report a case of complete opacification of the hemithorax produced by large cell lymphoma, a previously unreported cause of this finding. Diagnosis was complicated by the CT finding of replacement of the lung parenchyma by a soft-tissue mass with an associated small pleural effusion, while bronchoscopy failed to reveal any major airway obstruction. Large cell lymphoma should therefore be added to the differential diagnosis when considering causes of complete opacification of the hemithorax. Both the patient and his brother had the combination of Lowe's syndrome and cancer.