Granulomatous pulmonary disease in a child: An unusual presentation of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the bowel which may be associated with an extensive list of extraintestinal manifestations involving almost every organ system. The most common organs involved are the eyes, skin, joints, and liver. Symptomatic bronchopulmonary disorders have been reported only rarely in pediatric CD. We report on an 11-year-old child who had a recurrent cough and increasing dyspnea with exercise for 8 months before developing any gastrointestinal symptoms. He was demonstrated to have granulomatous inflammation of the lung, as well as of the gastrointestinal tract. Similarities between CD and sarcoidosis are discussed. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.