Endobronchial obstruction resulting in severe respiratory failure – A rare manifestation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Summary 

Pulmonary involvement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been previously described and is usually characterized by lymphocytic infiltration in the peribronchial interstitium. Endobronchial involvement is a very rare pulmonary manifestation of CLL unless a transformation to high-grade lymphoma occurs. In the present case we describe an elderly patient with indolent CLL in whom endobronchial involvement led to severe acute respiratory failure.

Keywords: Respiratory failure, Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Bronchoscopy