Pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma: literature review and case presentation

Pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma (PHG) is an extremely rare condition. Only 170-200 cases have been described until now all over the world. There have been no reports in the Russian medical literature. Etiology of the disease is unknown. The X-ray picture is very unspecific. Tumors of lungs and pleura and infectious diseases are included in the differential line. Patients with pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma have long stabile progression of the disease, and the treatment with glucocorticoids can lead to the long lasting remission. The aim of the review was to inform pulmonologists, general practitioners, infectious disease specialists, thoracic surgeons, and oncologists about the existence of pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma, its diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment. Also we present one clinical case of patient with pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma. Conclusion. Because of very low incidence of PHG, an internist or a pulmonologist can never encounter it in their professional life. However it is worth keeping this condition in mind and including it into the diagnostic process when focal and focused shadows are identified in the lungs during chest X-ray. Probably, the disease is caused by different immune-mediatory processes, but the exact pathogenesis is still unknown. Biopsy of the lung tissue by means of lung resection is crucial for the morphological verification of the diagnosis. The prognosis of the disease is favorable. The timely initiation of treatment can sufficiently prolong the remission.