Spectrum of Clinical Presentation of Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis: Case Series from North India

Abstract

We describe five cases of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) from North India with characteristic radiological and histopathological features. All patients were symptomatic with variable severity and duration of the symptoms and one patient developed cor-pulmonale during the course of follow-up. Diagnosis of PAM was suspected on the basis of classical sand-storm appearance on radiological examination and confirmed by transbronchial lung biopsy in four of the five cases. Apart from other features, presence of pleural and pericardial calcification in one case makes this discussion valuable. Awareness of this specific entity among the clinicians is essential to avoid unnecessary investigations.