Current Thoracic Surgery
2018 , Vol 3 , Issue 2
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: a case report
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medova Hospital, Konya, Turkey2Department of Thoracic Surgery, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Resarch Hospital, Ankara, Turkey DOI : 10.26663/cts.2018.00012 Viewed : 5395 - Downloaded : 2919 Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease characterized by accumulation of material in the alveoli of the lungs. It is generally diagnosed in middle-aged men. The most common complaints are cough and dyspnea. Characteristic radiological findings of PAP include nodular infiltration with a tendency to merge and ground glass density, septal thickening and resemblance to paving stone. Typical findings include periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain positive materials in the alveolar proteinosis, milky appearance of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), interstitial opacities, thickened interlobular septa, and patchy central or peripheral ground-glass opacities in the lung parenchyma in the chest CT. The most effective proved treatment is whole lung lavage. The aim of the treatment in PAP cases is to restore the alveolar gas exchange by removing excess surfactant accumulated in the alveoli. Keywords : alveolar proteinosis, bronchoalveolar lavage, dyspnea