Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with minimal symptoms and near-complete whiteout on chest imaging
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare idiopathic disease characterized by accumulated calcium and phosphate crystals within the alveoli. Although PAM can be suspected in patients with clinical-radiological dissociation and characteristic imaging findings on chest computed tomography, def...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Radiology Case Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325002729 |
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| Summary: | Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare idiopathic disease characterized by accumulated calcium and phosphate crystals within the alveoli. Although PAM can be suspected in patients with clinical-radiological dissociation and characteristic imaging findings on chest computed tomography, definitive diagnosis requires a family history of PAM, identification of SLC34A2 gene mutations, or lung biopsy to exclude differential diagnoses. We report a case of a 66-year-old female incidentally found to have diffuse pulmonary calcifications. The diagnosis was confirmed through typical imaging features, transbronchial lung biopsy, and a family history of PAM. This case highlights the hallmark imaging characteristics of PAM and the critical role of transbronchial lung biopsy in establishing a definitive diagnosis. As PAM is a rare disease with no established consensus on treatment, except for lung transplantation, symptomatic management remains a significant challenge. |
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| ISSN: | 1930-0433 |