Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis presenting with crazy-paving pattern on high resolution CT.
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is an uncommon chronic disease characterized by calcifications within the alveoli and a paucity of symptoms in contrast to the imaging findings. We present a 59-year-old woman with a 4-year history of shortness of breath on exertion. Lung auscultation revealed random wheezes and fine and coarse crackles. Pulmonary function tests showed a restrictive pattern. The chest radiograph demonstrated a bilateral symmetric micronodular pattern. High resolution CT scan revealed diffuse ground-glass attenuation with superimposed septal thickening ("crazy-paving" pattern). The patient underwent a lung biopsy, which confirmed the diagnosis of PAM. Our case demonstrates that PAM needs to be considerate in the differential diagnosis of lung lesions that present with crazy-paving pattern on the high resolution CT.
Gasparetto
E L
EL
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Paraná School of Medicine, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Tazoniero
P
P
Escuissato
D L
DL
Marchiori
E
E
Frare E Silva
R L
RL
Sakamoto
D
D
D002137:Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*