A case of Behcet disease characterized by the appearance of a mass in the lungs

Abstract

A 42-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with a cough, hemoptysis, and complaints of pain in his right shoulder and chest for 10 days. the patient had intermittent fever 38 degrees C with chills. Laboratory results were: leucocytes:21.1 K/uL, platelets:564 K/uL, hemoglobin:13.8 g/dl, C-reactive protein: 8.61, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate: 104 mm/h. Physical examination was normal. the patient had a history of smoking 30 packets/year and Behcet disease (BD) for seven years. Chest radiography showed an increased density on the right paratracheal area. Thorax computed tomography (TCT) revealed a lobulated mass lesion 55x34 mm on the upper lobe of the right lung. Bronchoscopy was performed but neither a mass nor a bleeding focus was detected. A CT-guided transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed. the pathological examination was reported as ''necrotizing vasculitis.'' These results were compatible with pulmonary involvement of the BD. Immunosuppressive therapy was initiated; after 2 months, a control TCT was within normal limits.