Discussion
Diagnosis With Brief Discussion
- Diagnosis
- Diffuse pulmonary ossification
- Radiologic Findings
- Chest radiography shows diffuse reticular interstitial pattern of increased opacities predominantly in the middle and lower lung zones (Fig. 1). Note the right pneumothorax. Axial CT images with lung window setting show small nodules with somewhat linear or branching opacities in peripheral and peribronchial distribution. (Fig. 2 and 3). Axial CT images with mediastinal window setting show foci of calcifications in some of the nodules and linear opacities (Fig. 4 and 5).
Wedge resections of the RML and RLL were done to establish a diagnosis, and the lesions were diagnosed as diffuse pulmonary ossification.
- Brief Review
- Diffuse pulmonary ossification is an uncommon condition that is characterized by metaplastic bone formation in the lung parenchyma (1). Luschka (2) first described diffuse pulmonary ossification in 1856, and lately, two types of the disease have been distinguished: dendriform and nodular form. Dendriform ossification may be associated with a history of inflammation, fibrosis, or lung injury, and is characterized by coral-like dendritic pattern on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan (1, 3, 4). Nodular ossification has been encountered in the clinical setting of cardiac disease and passive congestion, showing smoothly contoured, lobulated nodules on HRCT scan (1, 3, 4).
Diffuse pulmonary ossification usually occurs in the context of a pre-existing pulmonary, cardiac, or metabolic disorder. Idiopathic diffuse pulmonary ossification is a very rare disorder that usually occurs in men aged 40-60 years. Patients are usually asymptomatic but mild symptoms, restrictive pulmonary physiology, and impaired lung transfer factor have been described (5).
The presence of pulmonary calcification is often not apparent on radiographs but can usually be seen on HRCT scanning (5).
- References
- 1. Kanne JP, Godwin JD, Takasugi JE, Schmidt RA, Stern EJ. Diffuse pulmonary ossification. J Thorac Imaging 2004;19:98–102
2. Luschka H. Ramified ossification of the pulmonary parenchyma. Wirchows Arch 1856; 10:500–505.
3. Peros-Golubicić T, Tekavec-Trkanjec J. Diffuse pulmonary ossification: an unusual interstitial lung disease. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2008;14:488-92
4. Marchiori E, Souza AS Jr, Franquet T, Müller NL. Diffuse high-attenuation pulmonary abnormalities: a pattern-oriented diagnostic approach on high-resolution CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2005 ;184:273-82.
5. Ryan CF, Flint JD, Müller NL. Idiopathic diffuse pulmonary ossification. Thorax 2004;59:1004
- Keywords
- Lung, Metabolic and storage lung disesae,