Pulmonary and retroperitoneal lesions induced by methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Mod Rheumatol. 2016;26(3):441-4. doi: 10.3109/14397595.2014.898559. Epub 2014 Apr 1.

Abstract

A 78-year-old man had fatigue and appetite loss for 5 months. He had been receiving low-dose methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis. Computed tomography revealed multiple pulmonary infiltrations and muddiness of the fatty tissue surrounding the right kidney, ureter wall thickening, and hydroureter/nephrosis, which were suspected retroperitoneal fibrosis. Lung biopsy revealed polymorphic/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoproliferative disorder. Methotrexate withdrawal resulted in spontaneous regression. Therefore, retroperitoneal lesion may account for the diagnosis as having retroperitoneal lymphoproliferative disorder, not retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Keywords: Lymphoproliferative disorder; Methotrexate; Retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
  • Biopsy
  • Humans
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / pathology
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / adverse effects*
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / chemically induced*
  • Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Methotrexate