Rapidly Progressive Lymphoma of the Lung Appearing as the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

¹ From the Pulmonary Division, Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati

We present a patient with diffuse malignant lymphoma involving the lungs who suddenly developed acute respiratory insufficiency with the typical picture of the adult respiratory distress syndrome. The interstitial and intra-alveolar spaces were replaced by malignant cells with destruction of the alveolar lining cells. Other possible causes of this syndrome were excluded. Although lymphomatous involvement of the lungs may gradually lead to respiratory insufficiency in the course of several months, rapidly developing respiratory failure with severe hypoxemia refractory to 100 percent inspired oxygen over the period of several hours has not been previously reported.