CTICasesAluminum-Induced Alveolar Proteinosis
Imaging findings
CT shows extensive crazy paving, characterized by widespread septal lines and ground-glass opacity, interspersed with a few areas of spared lung and a small confluent focus of consolidation in the left lower lobe. Follow-up imaging six months later demonstrates significant improvement in these findings.
Key takeaways
Alveolar proteinosis can be induced by occupational exposures, such as aluminum dust. The classic imaging pattern is crazy paving (ground-glass opacity with superimposed septal thickening). Unusually, as seen in this case, exposure-related alveolar proteinosis may spontaneously resolve upon cessation of exposure, without specific treatments like whole lung lavage or GM-CSF. The diagnosis is presumptive based on the clinical context of exposure and observed improvement upon removal from the causative agent.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Hantavirus Pulmonary SyndromeInfection
- Disseminated Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in HIV-Positive PatientInfection
- Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia (PJP) and Cryptococcosis in AIDSInfection
- Invasive Fungal Infection (Aspergillosis) with Diffuse Pulmonary HemorrhageInfection
- Tuberculous Chest Wall Abscess / Empyema NecessitansInfection
- Leukemic Infiltrates in the Lung (Myeloid Sarcoma)Neoplastic
- Acute Histoplasmosis with Pulmonary InfarctInfection
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung with Small Bowel PerforationNeoplastic
See all cases from July 24, 2016 →