https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2021.1709

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: Blizzard of lung

Vol. 91 No. 4 (2021)
Submitted: December 1, 2020
Accepted: April 22, 2021
Published: June 10, 2021
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis , microliths, pulmonary calcifications
Abstract Views: 1826
PDF: 753
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Authors

Richa Mittal
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9863-0742
Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Rohit Kumar
dr.rohitkumar@mail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6398-7840
Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Juvva Kishan Srikanth
Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Siddharth Raj Yadav
Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Ravi Chandak
Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Shibdas Chakrabarti
Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare inherited disorder in which patients present with either nonspecific signs and symptoms or are asymptomatic. Clinical-radiological dissociation is a commonly seen feature of the disease. Majority of cases are diagnosed in second and third decade of life, although presentation in paediatric and elderly population is also reported. Pathognomonic radiological findings, with normal calcium and phosphate levels can confirm the diagnosis without the need of further investigations in large number of cases. A high index of suspicion and knowledge of the disease is of paramount importance as it has a wide range of presentation and variable course thus posing a diagnostic challenge. We present two cases of this rare disease in elderly females with distinct presentations although with similar and characteristic radiological findings along with a brief review of literature of the disease.

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How to Cite

Mittal, Richa, Rohit Kumar, Juvva Kishan Srikanth, Siddharth Raj Yadav, Ravi Chandak, and Shibdas Chakrabarti. 2021. “Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis: Blizzard of Lung”. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 91 (4). https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2021.1709.
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