title: Nodular pulmonary amyloidosis--rare cause of calcified pulmonary nodules.
abstract: The article presents the case of a 60-year-old asymptomatic woman whose chest X-ray screening showed bilateral pulmonary nodules of uncertain etiology. Initially, the main suspicion concerned multiple pulmonary metastases, but the anatomical pathology examination of two of the surgically removed lung nodules revealed a benign pattern--foreign body granulomatous reaction to cholesterol crystals. Patient follow-up with a repeat computed tomography one year later showed that some pulmonary nodules had slightly increased in number and size, so the diagnosis required re-evaluation. Congo red staining revealed a positive reaction in the amorphous material, pointing to a nodular form of pulmonary amyloidosis. This case attests to the wide range of investigations needed to examine multiple pulmonary nodules and to the great variety of possible diagnoses. Surgical biopsy, alongside histopathological examination and immunohistochemical tests of the lung are critical in establishing a positive diagnosis. Pulmonary amyloidosis requires additional investigations and long-term follow-up of the patient, as this condition is frequently associated with MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma or multiple myeloma.
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macri
authors.forename: Radu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matache
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leonte
authors.forename: Radu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stoica
mesh_terms: D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D055613:Multiple Pulmonary Nodules / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed