LAM mainly affects the lungs, where it causes an overgrowth of a certain type of cell(smooth muscle cell). This overgrowth occurs around the airways (breathing tubes) and also around the blood vessels and the lymph vessels (lymph vessels normally drain excess fluid from the lungs). The cells lead to cysts developing in the lung and these may be seen on a chest x-ray and are shown very clearly on a CT scan of the lung.
The main effects of LAM are in the lung but quite a few patients also have a tumour in the kidneys and sometimes more than one; they are not malignant but can cause bleeding. Lymph nodes may be enlarged in other parts of the body but they don't usually cause problems.
The name lymphangioleiomyomatosis reflects the different components of the disease. Lymph and angio refer to the lymph and blood vessels that are involved and leiomyo refers to the smooth muscle. LAM is sometimes called sporadic LAM to distinguish it from LAM that occurs in patients who have tuberous sclerosis (see LAM and Tuberous Sclerosis.)
Juliet Stevenson