Pulmonary Lymphangiomyomatosis: With Particular Reference to Steroid-Receptor Assay Studies and Pathologic Correlation

The symptoms of progressive dyspnea, hemoptysis, spontaneous pneumothorax, chylous effusions, and cough in conjunction with ventilatory obstruction and abnormal gas exchange in a young woman should prompt the diagnosis of pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis. Cytosol steroid-receptor assays and postmortem studies were conducted in an extensive investigation of a case of this disease. A biopsy specimen of the lung disclosed evidence of nuclear translocation of [ 3 H]progesterone and the presence of a cytosolic receptor for progesterone, an indication that this disease could be treated effectively with progestin.