Open AccessPulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: Blizzard of lung
Author(s) -
Richa Mittal,
Rohit Kumar,
Juvva Kishan Srikanth,
Siddharth Yadav,
R. A. Chandak,
Shibdas Chakrabarti
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
monaldi archives for chest disease. pulmonary series/monaldi archives for chest disease/monaldi archives for chest disease. cardiac series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2465-101X
pISSN - 1122-0643
DOI - 10.4081/monaldi.2021.1709
Subject(s) - pathognomonic , medicine , radiological weapon , asymptomatic , presentation (obstetrics) , disease , pediatrics , lung , pathology , radiology
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.