Overview
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disorder characterized by the deposition of calcium phosphate microliths within the alveolar spaces of the lungs, potentially extending to extrapulmonary calcifications such as pleural and renal involvement 1.Diagnosis
Chest Radiography: Presence of peripheral white lines indicative of calcified microliths 1.
High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT): Essential for detailed visualization of alveolar microlith deposits 1.
Extrapulmonary Calcification: Consideration of pleural and renal calcifications to identify systemic involvement 1.Management
Supportive Care: Focus on symptom management and monitoring for complications 2.
No Specific Pharmacological Treatment: No evidence provided for specific drug classes or doses 2.Special Populations
Comorbidities: Extrapulmonary calcifications (pleural and renal) noted in some cases, suggesting potential systemic effects 1.Key Recommendations
Consider HRCT for definitive diagnosis of PAM, especially to identify characteristic alveolar microlith deposits 1.
Monitor for extrapulmonary calcifications in patients diagnosed with PAM to assess for systemic involvement 1.
Provide supportive care tailored to symptom management, as no specific pharmacological treatments are currently recommended 2 (Evidence: Expert opinion).References
1 Pant K, Shah A, Mathur RK, Chhabra SK, Jain SK. Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with pleural calcification and nephrolithiasis. Chest 1990. link
2 Thind GS, Bhatia JL. Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis. British journal of diseases of the chest 1978. link90027-x)