Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma: 13 Years Until its Diagnosis

A 75 year-old female was referred to the Central University Hospital of Asturias, Oviedo, in March 2000, because of an abnormal chest X-ray (CXR) as a casual finding. The patient at this time was asymptomatic (no chest pain, night sweats or fever). She had no known toxic habits nor surgical or medical background of interest. The chest X-ray showed a left lower lobe (LLL) alveolar infiltrate. She was diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia and received antibiotic treatment for 10 days. In her follow-up visit, she remained asymptomatic, but due to the persistence of the lesion 2 months after the pneumonia diagnosis, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest was performed. The CT scan revealed a LLL alveolar consolidation and associated bronchiectasis. On january 10, 2001, a bronchoscopy was conducted and no endobronchial lesions were found, being the bronchial aspirate (BAS) and brushing technique negative for malignancy and infection. With the diagnosis of bronchiectasis in the LLL, follow up visits continued for a period of 3 years, in which the patient was clinically stable and the initial lesion in the LLL remained unchanged.