PLEURAL AMYLOIDOSIS - THORACOSCOPIC ASPECTS

We describe the case of a 60 year old man with primary amyloidosis, wh o suffered from peripheral neuropathy and cardiomyopathy and who prese nted with recurrent right pleural effusion. For this reason, he was ad mitted to hospital for thoracoscopic examination with pleurodesis. Mac roscopic examination of the parietal pleura revealed a diffuse inflamm ation and light brown deposits that where covered with nodules. Biopsy specimens confirmed the amyloid deposition. This macroscopic appearan ce is described for the first time, and suggests that a local pleural synthesis of amyloid substance may occur during the course of systemic amyloidosis.