title: [Lung rounded atelectasis. A benign lesion due to asbestos].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rounded atelectasis (RA) is an unusual form of pulmonary lesion often confounded with pulmonary neoplasia. We studied the main diagnostic and evolutive characteristics of a series of patients diagnosed with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients diagnosed of RA in a tertiary hospital in Catalonia were included in the study. The diagnostic criterion of RA was strictly based on thoracic CT. Clinical data and pulmonary function tests were also evaluated. Four teen patients underwent a long term follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asbestos was the cause of RA in 13 cases (65%); 7 had previously had homolateral pleural effusion; 5 pulmonary tuberculosis and in 1 case RA appeared at the lung biopsy site. The most frequent localization was inferior lobes and left side (70%). Eighteen patients had a ventilatory disorder: 10 restrictive, 6 mixed and 2 obstructive. In no case, RA evolved to malignancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA is a benign lesion mainly due to asbestos showing well-defined morphological characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gispert
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andreu
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos