Effusion cytology: an effective method for the diagnosis of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

[lymphangioleiomyomatosis]

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM ) is a rare progressive lung disease . Chylous effusion is one of the most common clinical manifestations of LAM . Herein we present a 39 -year -old female who presented progressive dyspnea on exertion and chylothorax . The chest computed tomography showed multiple thin -walled cysts in both lungs which suggesting LAM . The pleural effusion cytology plus with further immunocytochemistry confirmed the computed tomography diagnosis . Therefore , the LAM can be diagnosed by cytologic examination combined with conventional chest computed tomography and clinical manifestations , which can help some patients to avoid an invasive biopsy .