The Endoscopic Treatment of Tracheo-bronchial Amyloidosis: A Challenging Issue

Clinical Case

In May 2011, a 67-year-old woman without any past medical history was admitted to our hospital for increasing dyspnea and hemoptysis. On computed tomography severe tracheobronchial stenosis obstructing distal trachea and almost completely the main stem left bronchus was observed (Figure 1A). Endoscopy biopsy was suggestive of amyloidosis.

The mass was completely resected via rigid bronchoscopy. A Y-shaped covered, self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) was then inserted to assure airway patency (Figure 1B).

The airway patency was assessed every 3 months if no symptoms was observed for some time.

Twelve months later, she returned to our attention because of recurrent pneumonia. An exophitic lesion within main stem left bronchus at distal end of stent was placed on CT scan (Figure 1C).

Figure 1: An amyloid mass obstructed the distal trachea and the mainstem left bronchus (Part A). After its resection via rigid bronchoscope, a Y-shaped covered, self-expandable metallic stent was inserted to assure airway patency (Part B). Twelve months after, a recurrence of amyloid tissue obstructed the distal end of stent within left bronchus (white arrow, Part C). A mechanical resection associated with Nd/YAG laser irradiation of amyloid allowed to restore the air-way patency of left bronchus (white arrow; Part D).

A biopsy specimen obtained during flexible bronchoscopy was diagnostic of recurrence of disease.

A mechanical recanalization and Nd/YAG laser irradiation using rigid bronchoscopy was performed.

No complications were seen and the patient reported an improvement of respiratory function with patent left bronchus (Figure 1D). Seven months later, an endoscopic re-canalization was necessary to re-establish the airway patency owing to amyloid recurrence at the same site.

Successively systemic therapy with colchicine, melphalan, and corticosteroids associated to sequential radiotherapy (20 Gy in 10 fractions over two weeks) were performed.

In November 2013 she presented to the emergency department of our institution with acute dyspnea and stridor.

CT scan and emergency bronchoscopy revealed endobronchial mass obstructing the left and tracheal limbs of the Y shaped stent respectively (Figure 2A, 2B).

Two SEMSs were sequentially placed in left mainstem bronchus (Figure 2C) and trachea (Figure 2D) and recanalization of obstructed airway was obtained with improvement of symptoms.

Radiological evaluation Figure 3A, 3B showed the correct position of Y-Stent and of the additional two SEMSs with complete re-expansion of both lungs without sign of atelectasis. Nevertheless the patient died three months later from cardiac failure.

Figure 2: Exophitic amyloid tissue obstructed the proximal end of Y-stent in trachea and the distal end of Y-Stent within left bronchus (white arrow, Part A). The delivery catheter of self expanded metallic stent (SEMS) was introduced in the lumen of left bronchus (Part B). The placement of SEMS restored the airway patency of left main bronchus (Part C). Another SEMS was placed in the proximal trachea (Part D).

Figure 3: Chest-X-ray (Part A) and Computed tomography scan with 3D reconstruction (Part B) showed the presence of Y-Stent and of the additional two SEMSs within trachea and left main bronchus (Part B). Notably, the complete re-expansion of both lungs without sign of atelectasis.

Discussion

Localized TBA is an uncommon disorder. The progressive amyloid growth in the bronchial wall leads to post-obstructive pneumonia as a results of bronchial stenosis. There is no pharmacologic therapy. Management of TBA depends on airway involvement. Treatment includes intermittent bronchoscopic or surgical resection [1,2], Nd/YAG laser irradiation, and external radiotherapy [3]. In the absence of systemic disease, the clinical course of localized TBA may not be benign.

In the study of [4], 3 of 7 patients died of respiratory failure or recurrent pneumonia secondary to bronchial obstruction.

In the series published by Utz from Mayo Clinic [5], 3 out of 4 patients with TBA died at 79, 28 and 42 months by the last follow-up.

The present case is unique because all above reported procedures for the treatment of localized TBA were applied in the same patient at different times of follow-up due to the persistent recurrences: (i) firstly, the mass was completely removed by mechanical resection during rigid bronchoscopy and a Y-shaped SEMS was place to assure airway patency. (ii) Two additional endoscopic procedures were performed intervals of 12 and 19 months, respectively. To avoid the excessive bleeding due to friable nature of the amyloid tissue, during mechanical resection we used Nd-YAG laser therapy. (iii) As reported by Kurrus [6] and Nebben-Wittich [7], in July 2013 an external radiotherapy with use of 20 Gy in 10 fractions was performed due to failure of systemic therapy.(iv) Finally, local progression of disease caused 90% obstruction of left main stem bronchus and 50% obstruction of trachea. Sequential placement of two SEMS in the left and tracheal limbs of the Y shaped stent respectively, represents the unique strategy to preserve air patency in case of difficult to remove Y-stent due to its embedding in the bronchial mucosa and epithelialization of the inner surface.

The patient died three months later from cardiac failure probably due to cardiac amyloid deposits.

Conclusion

The management of TBA and its recurrences may require different approaches aiming to restore airway patency. However, despite the benignity of pathology and the localized form of disease, the prognosis remains poor.