Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Medicine

Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Medicine

Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis Diagnosed During Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery; A Case Report

Document Type : Case Report

Authors
Amir Mohammad Hashem Asnaashari 1
Davood Attaran 1
Soroush Attaran 2
Parastou Asnaashari 2
Sahar Ravanshad 3
Sepide Hejazi 1
1 Pulmonologist, Lung Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Student of Lung Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22038/jctm.2022.66087.1383
Abstract
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare inherited pulmonary disease characterized by the deposition of intra-alveolar calcium deposits. In most of the Asian and European countries, PAM is usually misdiagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis and sarcoidosis. We presented a young case of PAM manifested as chronic progressive dyspnea unresponsive to corticosteroids for one year. The first diagnostic clues were made by high resolution computed tomography. Although Bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy examination were unremarkable, however, after performing a Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, the biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis of PAM.
Keywords
Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Bronchoalveolar lavage
Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis
PAM
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Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Medicine
Volume 10, Issue 3
Summer 2022
Pages 1039-1043