BEHCETS-SYNDROME WITH PULMONARY INVOLVEMENT - COMBINED THERAPY FOR ENDOBRONCHIAL STENOSIS USING NEODYM-YAG LASER, BALLOON DILATION AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

We present a case report of a patient suffering from Behcet's syndrome with pulmonary involvement. The development of endobronchial granulom atosis in the bronchus intermedius and right upper lobe bronchus led t o severe bronchial stenosis and dyspnoea. Also aphthous ulcerations in the bronchial mucosa occurred. Treatment of the granulomatous stenosi s consisted of Neodym-YAG laser resection and immunosuppression. On fo llow-up there was a recurrence of the stenosis, characterised by fibro tic strictures. Therefore a balloon dilation was performed and immunos uppression instituted, which led to an increase in airway diameter and a reduction in dyspnoea. These clinical results suggest that recanali sation therapy with Neodym-YAG laser and/or balloon dilation with addi tional immunosuppression is suitable in benign stenosis (granulomatous or fibrotic), caused by Behcet's disease.