Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: high-resolution computed tomography findings in 10 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To present the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis.


METHODS
The HRCT scans of 10 adult patients (seven females and three males; mean age, 38.7 years) were retrospectively analyzed. The films were studied independently by two radiologists.


RESULTS
The most common tomographic findings were ground-glass attenuation and linear subpleural calcifications, which were seen in 90% of the patients. Other relevant findings were small parenchymal nodules, calcification along the interlobular septa, nodular cissures, subpleural nodules, subpleural cysts, dense consolidations, and a mosaic pattern of attenuation.


CONCLUSIONS
The HRCT findings presented by individuals with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis are distinct. In most cases, such findings can form the basis of the diagnosis, eliminating the need to perform a lung biopsy.
Marchiori
Edson
E
Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Fluminense Federal University - Niterói (RJ) Brazil. edmarchiori@bol.com.br
Gonçalves
Carolina Marinho
CM
Escuissato
Dante Luiz
DL
Teixeira
Kim-Ir-Sen Santos
KI
Rodrigues
Rosana
R
Barreto
Miriam Menna
MM
Esteves
Mauro
M
D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*