title: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: high-resolution computed tomography findings in 10 patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal Fluminense - UFF, Fluminense Federal University - Niterói (RJ) Brazil. edmarchiori@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchiori
authors.forename: Carolina Marinho
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Dante Luiz
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Escuissato
authors.forename: Kim-Ir-Sen Santos
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Miriam Menna
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esteves
mesh_terms: 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*