The survival time following the diagnosis of LAM is uncertain. It has been reported to be less than 10 years, but new reports show patients living more than 20 years after diagnosis. The reason for the apparently increased survival time is unknown. The diagnosis of LAM can be difficult because many of the early symptoms are similar to those of other lung diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis. Often the person with LAM first goes to the physician complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath that was caused by a pneumothorax.
Some patients first consult their physician because of shortness of breath upon exertion.
This is a simple procedure that provides a picture of the lungs and other tissue in the chest. The patient's blood is analyzed to determine whether the lungs are providing an adequate supply of oxygen to the blood. The patient lies inside a long, cylindrical structure, and x-ray beams pass through the body from different angles, producing multiple images. A computer combines all of these images and provides a 3-dimensional picture of the inside of the lungs and chest. This is called a CT scan.