DIFFUSE LARGE-CELL LYMPHOMA OF THE LUNG - AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF COMPLETE OPACIFICATION OF THE HEMITHORAX

Complete opacification on chest radiographs may be due to collapse of the lung, consolidation, massive pleural effusion, empyema, hemothorax , chylothorax, fibrothorax, and other causes. We report a case of comp lete opacification of the hemithorax produced by large cell lymphoma, a previously unreported cause of this finding. Diagnosis was complicat ed by the CT finding of replacement of the lung parenchyma by a soft-t issue mass with an associated small pleural effusion, while bronchosco py failed to reveal any major airway obstruction. Large cell lymphoma should therefore be added to the differential diagnosis when consideri ng causes of complete opacification of the hemithorax. Both the patien t and his brother had the combination of Lowe's syndrome and cancer.