Department of Respiratory Medicine, Arrazi Hospital, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, LRMS Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 15(03), 352-357
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2022.15.3.0950
Received on 17 August 2022; revised on 22 September 2022; accepted on 24 September 2022
Background: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare infiltrative chronic lung disease characterized by deposition of spherical calcium phosphate microliths called calcospherites within the alveoli with predominance in lower and mid zones. Etiology and pathogenesis is not fully understood.
Case presentation: We report a case of 58 year old female patient presenting with progressive shortness of breath and chronic bronchitis over a period of 4 years. Physical examination revealed she had signs of chronic respiratory failure. Chest radiograph showed dense micronodular opacities giving classical sandstorm appearance. High resolution computed tomography showed diffuse microcalcifications, bilateral ground glass attenuation and septal thickening with calcification along the interlobar septa and subpleural regions.
Conclusion: According to our research this is the 15th case of PAM that has been declared in Morocco. Given the rarity of this entity, the purpose of this study was to increase knowledge of this disease among pulmonologists, in order to provide timely diagnosis.
Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis; Diagnostic imaging; Solute carrier family 34 member 2; Type IIb Sodium; Dependent phosphate co-transporter; Infiltrative lung disease-Case report
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Imane SAIDI, Meryem BOUGADOUM, Maryem HINDI, Salma AIT BATAHAR and Lamyae AMRO. Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: A case report from Morocco with review of literature. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022, 15(3), 352-357. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2022.15.3.0950