Imaging calcific concretions of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with PET: insight into disease pathophysiology.
A case of 18F-FDG PET in pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with bilateral reticulonodular opacities in the middle and lower zones on routine chest roentgenogram and calcification in the peribronchovascular interstitium,peribronchovascular and subpleural intralobular septal regions, and visceral pleura on high-resolution chest CT is presented. 18F-fluoride PET demonstrated intense tracer uptake in the lower zone of both lungs corresponding to CT findings. Minimal FDG activity in areas of dense calcification suggests minimal or no inflammation. This could account for the absence of symptoms in most cases despite remarkable imaging findings.
Radiation Medicine Centre (B.A.R.C.), Tata Memorial Centre Annexe, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, BYL Nair Charitable Hospital and TN Medical College, Mumbai, India. drsanb@yahoo.com
Sandip
S
Basu
Mehul
M
Shah
J M
JM
Joshi
Sangita
S
Lad
D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18