Korean J Cytopathol.  2000 Dec;11(2):103-108.

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis: A Case Report with Diagnostic Features in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Specimen

• Ha SY
• Cho H
• Oh YH

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.

Keyword

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Ultrastructure

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Bronchoalveolar Lavage*
Diagnosis
Eosinophils
Humans
Lung
Macrophages
Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis*
Rare Diseases