Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis: A Case Report with Diagnostic Features in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Specimen.
- Author:
Seung Yeon HA
1
;
Hyuni CHO
;
Young Ha OH
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Gachon Medical School, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea. syha@ghil.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis;
Bronchoalveolar lavage;
Ultrastructure
- MeSH:
Biopsy;
Bronchoalveolar Lavage*;
Diagnosis;
Eosinophils;
Humans;
Lung;
Macrophages;
Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis*;
Rare Diseases
- From:Korean Journal of Cytopathology
2000;11(2):103-108
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(PAP) is a rare disease in which the alveolar spaces are filled with an eosinophilic, PAS-positive material, whereas the interstitial architecture of the lung usually remains unaffected. Although a definitive diagnosis is usually made by an open lung biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) cytology may play a decisive role in the diagnosis and therapy of these patients and may spare a patient a more invasive diagnostic procedure. The author presents a patient in whom BAL cytology specimen contained the characteristic globules of amorphous proteinaceous PAS-positive material accompanied by background of rare macrophages and inflammatory cells. Ultrastructural study using BAL specimen can confirm the diagnosis of PAP.
