A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with silicosis

Abstract

A 53 year-old case with a high grade of exertional dyspnea was diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) to be pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and was treated with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using a partial extracorporeal circulation under general anesthesia.
Chest X-ray revealed diffuse micronodular shadows in both lungs, especially in the middle and lower lung fields. The microscopic findings of specimens obtained by TBLB showed eosinophilic, PAS positive granular materials filled in the alveolar space and the swelling of alveolar epithelial cells.
The patient has been radiologically, physiologically and symptomatically improved after three treatments of BAL.