Home   Chapter Home   Jobs   Conferences   Fellowships   Books

Advertisement

Lung-nontumor

Other non-neoplastic disease

Alveolar proteinosis

Reviewers: Dr. Elliot Weisenberg, M.D. (see Reviewers page)
Revised: 9 November 2011, last major update October 2011
Copyright: (c) 2003-2011, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

General
=========================================================================

● Rare disease with accumulation of acellular surfactant presumedly due to impaired clearance, likely due to dysfunction of alveolar macrophages
● Considered a response to alveolar injury, not a specific entity
● Congenital (2% of cases), primary (idiopathic) or secondary forms
● Congenital cases are usually due to mutation in surfactant protein or GM-CSF receptor genes
● Secondary (most common), associated with silica dust, aluminum, fiberglass, chemicals, immunosuppression, leukemia / lymphoma, Nocardia, Mycobacteria and Aspergillosis
● Usually adults (more common in smokers), also children
● Sputum contains chunks of gelatinous material; no inflammation
● Usually does NOT progress to chronic fibrosis
● Xray: resembles pulmonary edema; diffuse pulmonary opacification

Treatment
=========================================================================

● Whole lung lavage (also diagnostic)

Micro description
=========================================================================

● Alveoli contain amorphous, eosinophilic and PAS+ material in lumina consisting of type II pneumocytes, lamellar bodies and necrotic alveolar macrophages
● Variable fibrosis
● Mild/no lymphocytic infiltration

Virtual slides
=========================================================================

Alveolar proteinosis

EM description
=========================================================================

● Exudate contains lamellar bodies, lipid particles and cellular debris

End of Lung-nontumor > Other non-neoplastic disease > Alveolar proteinosis

This information is intended for physicians and related personnel, who understand that medical information is often imperfect, and must be interpreted in the context of a patient's clinical data using reasonable medical judgment. This website should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a licensed physician.

All information on this website is protected by copyright of PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. Information from third parties may also be protected by copyright. Please contact us at copyrightPathOut@gmail.com with any questions (click here for other contact information).