Giant cell pneumonia caused by parainfluenza type 3 in a patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1987 Jun;111(6):569-70.

Abstract

A 4 1/2-year-old boy with acute myelomonocytic leukemia developed fever, neutropenia, and a prolonged respiratory illness while receiving maintenance chemotherapy. An open lung biopsy specimen demonstrated a giant cell pneumonia with intracytoplasmic and probable intranuclear viral inclusions of the paramyxovirus type. Serologic studies demonstrated convincing evidence of a parainfluenza type 3 infection. Although parainfluenza type 3-induced giant cell pneumonia has been reported in infants with the severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case of this complication in a patient with leukemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / complications*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / complications*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / etiology*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology