A rare case of diffuse pulmonary ossification

• Published in: European respiratory review 2015-09, Vol.24 (137), p.540-541
• Main Authors: Jambeih, Rami, Sawh, Ravindranauth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biopsy; Humans; Images in Respiratory Medicine; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - pathology; Lung Diseases - diagnosis; Lung Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Lung Diseases - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Ossification, Heterotopic - diagnosis; Ossification, Heterotopic - diagnostic imaging; Ossification, Heterotopic - pathology; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0905-9180; 1600-0617
• DOI: 10.1183/16000617.00012314

A 45 year-old male patient presented to our clinic with chronic dyspnoea on exertion. He had no cough, fever or weight loss. He smoked tobacco for 2 months 25 years ago and had no significant occupational exposure. He had a chest radiograph 20 years ago following an episode of bronchitis, which reportedly showed “calcification of the lungs”. Chest auscultation revealed fine bibasilar crackles. He underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest, which showed diffuse calcified nodular lesions (figure  1a–c). Laboratory workup revealed normal calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels. He underwent a lung biopsy by video-assisted thoracoscopy, which confirmed the presence of intraparenchymal bone tissue and fibrosis (figure 1d). A diagnosis of pulmonary ossification was made. A repeat CT scan of the chest, 1 year later, showed no progression of the disease. A case demonstrating the indolent and benign course of pulmonary ossification http://ow.ly/Old3o