Lymphangitic carcinomatosis is a rare and severe manifestation of metastatic disease, most commonly associated with adenocarcinoma of the lung, breast and stomach.(1) The proliferation of malignant cells within the lymphatic system leads to widespread infiltration and subsequent thickening of the interlobular septa, causing significant respiratory impairment.(2)

Patients diagnosed with lymphangitic carcinomatosis often exhibit a range of non-specific respiratory symptoms. Among the most common symptoms is dyspnoea which can rapidly escalate in severity. Individuals may also experience a persistent cough that does not respond to typical treatments. As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms such as hypoxemia and respiratory failure can occur. This can result in acute respiratory distress that necessitates immediate medical intervention.(3)

The non-specific nature of these respiratory symptoms poses a significant diagnostic challenge. Dyspnoea, persistent cough, and hypoxemia are common presentations in various respiratory and systemic conditions, making it difficult to attribute these symptoms solely to lymphangitic carcinomatosis based on clinical presentation alone.(1) The variability in symptom severity and progression further complicates the clinical diagnosis. Given the limitations of relying on clinical symptoms for diagnosing LC, imaging modalities play a crucial role in the accurate and timely identification of this condition.(4)