Follicular bronchiolitis, an unusual cause of haemoptysis in giant cell arteritis

The occurrence of follicular bronchiolitis (FB), lymphoid hyperplasia of the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue, is reported in association with several systemic rheumatic diseases. However, the occurrence of FB in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) is not described. A 64-year-old man with long-standing GCA subsequently presented with haemoptysis. A mass in the lower lobe of the left lung was seen on chest x-ray and computed tomography. A wedge resection was performed, and histological examination revealed bronchiectasis, granulation tissue and hyperplasia of peribronchiolar lymphoid aggregates, consistent with FB. FB should be included in the differential diagnosis of haemoptysis in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases.