Background
Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related lung disease is a disease in which IgG4-positive plasma cells and lymphocytes infiltrate lung tissues along with immunohistochemically evident fibrous interstitial proliferation in the background, in addition to hyper-IgG4 disease [
1]. Various lesions associated with IgG4 have been documented since IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis was reported; however, reports focusing on IgG4-related disorders of the respiratory system as yet are few [
2,
3]. Reports pertaining to assessment of
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) findings in this disease are also still limited. We present 2 cases in our experience in which malignant lesions were suspected on diagnostic imaging but IgG4-related lung disease was ultimately diagnosed based on video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) biopsy.
Discussion
IgG4-related disease has been recognized as a collection of diverse extrapancreatic lesions concurrent with autoimmune pancreatitis [
1‐
3]. It is currently regarded as a disease of unknown etiology with commonly shared features that include elevated serum concentrations of IgG4 and pronounced lymphocyte and IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltrates and fibrosis with consequent swelling of involved organs, as well as nodulations and hyperplastic lesions. The organs known to be involved include the pancreas, bile ducts, lacrimal glands, salivary glands, central nervous system, thyroid, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, prostate, retroperitoneum, aorta, lymph nodes, skin, and mammary glands [
2,
4]. Clinical manifestations may include enlargement of involved organs, obstruction and pressure symptoms due to hyperplasia, and dysfunction due to cell infiltration and fibrosis. Pathological features including the presence of marked lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration and fibrosis, with IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltrates, i.e., IgG4/IgG ratio of >40%, and the occurrence of 10 IgG4-positive cells per HPF have been proposed [
4].
The inflammatory pseudotumor type [
5,
6] and the interstitial pneumonia type [
7] of IgG4-related lung disease have both been reported. Inflammatory pseudotumors are non-tumorous, space-occupying lesions comprised of collagen fibers intermixed in various degrees with inflammatory cells, and mesenchymal cells, and pathologically present in (1) organizing pneumonia type, (2) fibrous histiocytoma type, or (3) lymphoplasmacytic type, which usually overlap and show different stages of disease state progression [
5]. The lymphoplasmacytic type is generally thought to be highly homologous with IgG4-related lung disease [
6].
As for imaging features of pulmonary lesions on CT scan, the following types are reportedly present: 1) solid nodular type presenting as solitary nodular opacities, 2) round ground glass opacity type presenting as ground glass-like opacities with relatively discrete margins, 3) alveolar interstitial type presenting as honeycomb lung opacities reminiscent of so-called pulmonary fibrosis, and 4) bronchovascular type presenting as lesions extending along bronchial vascular bundles [
8]. In both cases documented herein, there were multiple intrapulmonary lesions accompanied by pleural thickening; hence, our cases had type 2) intermixed with type 4). There are few examples of the reports of IgG2-rerated lung disease and they cannot do the show of the clear CT image. I think that the CT image of the IgG4-rerated lung disease is necessary to review.
FDG-PET is applied to the diagnosis of malignant neoplasms by virtue of its capacity to detect elevated carbohydrate metabolic levels in tumor tissues [
9]. However, FDG-PET imaging may provide findings by which an inflammatory disorder can barely be differentiated from malignant tumors because FDG accumulates to varying degrees. Generally, at a site of inflammation, blood flow increases with capillary dilatation, rupture, angioneogenesis, and transudation of blood constituents, along with inflammatory cell (granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, etc.) infiltration, leading to fibroblast proliferation and collagen production with consequent fibrosis. It has been described that, in this process, FDG is liable to accumulate particularly in activated lymphocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes which utilize anaerobic glycolysis as a source of energy [
10‐
12]. FDG eventually accumulates at the site of inflammation where carbohydrate metabolism is enhanced. The inflammatory disorder is reportedly characterized by lower SUV and faster early- and late-phase clearance as compared to malignant tumors [
13], there is a similar report about autoimmune pancreatitis [
14]. Imaging showed a malignant tumor pattern in both cases reported herein, but the SUV value was a low compared with the malignant tumor. Since there is a report demonstrating that SUV declines as inflammatory findings subside [
15], it is considered necessary to further scrutinize FDG-PET imaging patterns together with CT findings in a larger number of cases.
Thoracoscopic biopsy of the lung and pleura is indicated for establishing a diagnosis of IgG4-related lung disease that has arisen in the peripheral region of the lung, in which bronchoscopic biopsy and percutaneous needle biopsy are difficult to perform and no definitive tests, markers, or imaging findings are currently available [
16]. The operative procedure described above is a useful, minimally invasive approach allowing lesion biopsy, diagnostic determination of the extent of the lesion, and collection of pleural effusion.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
MK have operated this case and analyzed all data. YM and SH, KS did the assistant of the operation. KO and NM diagnosed h the pathology of this case. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.