Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: high-resolution CT and MR findings

J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1998 Mar-Apr;22(2):245-8. doi: 10.1097/00004728-199803000-00016.

Abstract

We report the high-resolution CT (HRCT) and MR findings in a case of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis. HRCT revealed that the black pleural line on a chest radiograph was caused not by subpleural cysts but by a fat-dense layer between ribs and the calcified parenchyma. MRI showed both lower zones with diffusely increased signal intensity on T1-weighted images. We speculated it was caused by the accumulation of small-sized calcific particles.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Calcinosis / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / pathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*