Endobronchial deposits of chronic lymphocytic leukemia - an unusual cause of central airway obstruction

Abstract

A 66-year-old woman with a background of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was admitted to the hospital on several occasions with recurrent episodes of community-acquired pneumonia. Computed tomography and bronchoscopy revealed multiple obstructing endobronchial polyps. Post-obstructive pneumonia together with immunoglobulin G deficiency was considered the most likely cause of these recurrent infections. Bronchoscopy was performed for removal of the critically obstructing lesions. Histopathology revealed replacement of bronchial mucosa with CLL deposits. Despite a brief window of infection-free survival following therapy, she remained susceptible to pneumonia with further hospital admissions and eventually died from her disease.