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A case of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis

Hyun Wook Kang1, Tae Ok Kim, In-Jae Oh

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.

Journal of Korean Medical Science
|October 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare lung disease. This report details the first Korean case of PAM in a young man, diagnosed via biopsy after imaging revealed lung abnormalities.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Radiology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare interstitial lung disease of unknown cause.
  • Characterized by diffuse, microscopic calcium deposits (microlithiasis) within the lung alveoli.
  • Over half of patients are asymptomatic at diagnosis.

Observation:

  • A 19-year-old male Korean patient presented with asymptomatic interstitial thickening on chest radiograph.
  • High-resolution CT scan revealed diffuse, ill-defined micronodules and interstitial thickening.
  • Open lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis.

Findings:

  • The case represents the first documented instance of PAM in Korea.
  • The patient remained asymptomatic throughout the diagnostic process.
  • No disease progression was observed during a 6-month follow-up period without treatment.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of imaging in diagnosing rare lung conditions like PAM.
  • Suggests that asymptomatic PAM may exhibit a stable clinical course initially.
  • Contributes to the understanding of PAM's geographical distribution and clinical presentation.
Keywords:
CalcinosisComputed TomographyLung diseases

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