Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: a case report with emphasis on imaging findings.
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of small calculi in the alveolar space. The authors report a case of a 21-year-old man with a 2-year history of shortness of breath on exertion and dry cough. Physical examination was altered only for crackles at auscultation. Pulmonary function revealed a mild restrictive ventilatory defect and the chest radiograph demonstrated paracardiac confluence of dense micronodular infiltrate. High-resolution CT scan revealed diffuse ground glass attenuation and septal thickening, more pronounced in lower pulmonary regions, with calcifications along the interlobar septa and subpleural regions. A transbronchial lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PAM.
Abdalla
Guilherme
G
Department of Radiology, Rio de Janeiro Federal University, CEP 21941.913, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Marchiori
Edson
E
Zanetti
Gláucia
G
Mucillo
Antonio
A
Pereira
Mariana Leite
ML
Ventura
Nina
N
Martins
Pedro
P
Constantino
Carolina Pesce Lamas
CP
Canellas
Rodrigo
R
Brandão
Viviane
V
Varella de Oliveira
Romulo
R