Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis: A commonly misdiagnosed rare entity

Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2018 May;18(2):e236-e238. doi: 10.18295/squmj.2018.18.02.021. Epub 2018 Sep 9.

Abstract

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is an uncommon entity which can pose a diagnostic challenge. We report a 45-year-old female who was referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India, in 2017 with a two-year history of progressively worsening dyspnoea and dry coughing. She had been previously diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis elsewhere and prescribed antitubercular therapy; however, there was little improvement in her symptoms. Following referral, the patient was diagnosed with PAM based on high-resolution computed tomography findings and the abundance of lamellar microliths in a bronchoalveolar lavage sample. She was subsequently managed symptomatically and enrolled in a rehabilitation programme.

Keywords: Calcinosis; Case Report; India; Misdiagnosis; Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis; Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcinosis / diagnosis*
  • Diagnostic Errors*
  • Female
  • Genetic Diseases, Inborn / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • India
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis

Supplementary concepts

  • Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis