Source: Annual Congress 2012 - The good clinical practice: useful case report
Disease area: Interstitial lung diseases

Abstract

Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the presence of small calculi within the alveolar space. Clinical features vary and some patients may be asymptomatic for a long time with subsequent occurrence of dyspnea, dry cough, chest pain, and ultimately, respiratory failure. Recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax is a late complication of the disease. Herein we report a case of alveolar microlithiasis in a 42-year old male whose first presentation was the symptoms of pneumothorax. He was admitted with sudden onset dyspnea and right sided pleuretic chest pain. After treatment of pneumothorax with insertion of chest tube, pulmonary function revealed normal indices, The chest radiograph demonstrated diffuse confluence of dense micronodular infiltrate.

High-resolution CT scan revealed diffuse ground glass attenuation and calcifications along the interlobular septa and subpleural regions.

A transbronchial lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PAM.

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Citations should be made in the following way:
N. Sigari, S. Mohammadi (Sanandaj, Islamic Republic Of Iran). First presentation of a case of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with spontaneous pneumothorax. Eur Respir J 2012; 40: Suppl. 56, 3505

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