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Case Reports
. 2020 Jun 1:30:101100.
doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2020.101100. eCollection 2020.

Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis mimicking Mycoplasma pneumonia in an adolescent

Shaiva Ginoya Meka  1 , Madison Mohr  2 , Girish Balachandran Nair  1 , Bassel A Salman  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis mimicking Mycoplasma pneumonia in an adolescent

Shaiva Ginoya Meka et al. Respir Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disease of abnormal surfactant production and accumulation. It is typically divided into three main categories: autoimmune, secondary and genetic. The genetic type is more common in children and adolescents, while the autoimmune type is most commonly seen in adults. Here we present an unusual case of autoimmune PAP presenting in an adolescent by mimicking findings of Mycoplasma pneumonia. Although both PAP and Mycoplasma pneumonia may reveal the same findings of the "crazy paving pattern" on computed tomography imaging, it is imperative to distinguish the two as treatment options are dissimilar.

Keywords: Autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; Crazy paving pattern.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Axial CT chest scan demonstrating the "crazy paving" pattern.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Milky BAL fluid.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Histopathology of lung parenchyma demonstrating proteinaceous material within the alveoli (A) and positive PAS stain (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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