Calcificaciones pulmonares metastásicas, 3 casos clínicos / Metastatic pulmonary calcifications: three clinical cases

Las calcificaciones pulmonares metastásicas, hacen referencia a una enfermedad metabólica, caracterizada por depósitos de calcio en tejido pulmonar sano. La etiología es amplia e incluye enfermedades malignas y benignas, siendo la falla renal la causa más frecuente. Es una condición, que, a pesar de ser frecuente, suele ser subdiagnosticada, por presentar pocos o ningún síntoma. Presentamos tres casos clínicos asociados a enfermedad renal crónica, pre y post trasplante.

Metastatic pulmonary calcifications refer to a metabolic disease, characterized by calcium deposits in healthy lung tissue. The etiology is broad and includes malignant and benign diseases, the kidney failure being the most frequent cause. It is a condition, which, despite being frequent, is usually underdiagnosed, because it presents few or no symptoms. We present three clinical cases associated with pre- and post-transplant kidney disease.

Metastatic pulmonary calcification: high-resolution computed tomography findings in 23 cases / Calcificação pulmonar metastática: achados na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução de 23 casos

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in patients diagnosed with metastatic pulmonary calcification (MPC). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the HRCT findings from 23 cases of MPC [14 men, 9 women; mean age, 54.3 (range, 26-89) years]. The patients were examined between 2000 and 2014 in nine tertiary hospitals in Brazil, Chile, and Canada. Diagnoses were established by histopathologic study in 18 patients and clinical-radiological correlation in 5 patients. Two chest radiologists analyzed the images and reached decisions by consensus. Results: The predominant HRCT findings were centrilobular ground-glass nodules (n = 14; 60.9%), consolidation with high attenuation (n = 10; 43.5%), small dense nodules (n = 9; 39.1%), peripheral reticular opacities associated with small calcified nodules (n = 5; 21.7%), and ground-glass opacities without centrilobular ground-glass nodular opacity (n = 5; 21.7%). Vascular calcification within the chest wall was found in four cases and pleural effusion was observed in five cases. The abnormalities were bilateral in 21 cases. Conclusion: MPC manifested with three main patterns on HRCT, most commonly centrilobular ground-glass nodules, often containing calcifications, followed by dense consolidation and small solid nodules, most of which were calcified. We also described another pattern of peripheral reticular opacities associated with small calcified nodules. These findings should suggest the diagnosis of MPC in the setting of hypercalcemia.

Resumo Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os achados de tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução (TCAR) em pacientes com diagnóstico de calcificação pulmonar metastática (CPM). Materiais e Métodos: Revisamos, retrospectivamente, os achados na TCAR de 23 casos de CPM [14 homens e 9 mulheres; idade média, 54,3 (intervalo, 26-89) anos]. Os pacientes foram examinados entre 2000 e 2014 em nove hospitais terciários no Brasil, Chile e Canadá. O diagnóstico foi estabelecido por estudo histopatológico em 18 pacientes e correlação clinicorradiológica em 5 pacientes. Dois radiologistas de tórax analisaram as imagens e chegaram a decisões por consenso. Resultados: Os achados predominantes na TCAR foram nódulos centrolobulares em vidro fosco (n = 14; 60,9%), consolidação com alta atenuação (n = 10; 43,5%), pequenos nódulos densos (n = 9; 39,1%), opacidades reticulares periféricas associadas com pequenos nódulos calcificados (n = 5; 21,7%) e opacidades em vidro fosco sem nódulos centrolobulares em vidro fosco (n = 5; 21,7%). Calcificação vascular na parede torácica foi encontrada em quatro casos e derrame pleural foi observado em cinco casos. As anormalidades foram bilaterais em 21 casos. Conclusão: CPM manifestou-se com três padrões principais na TCAR. O aspecto mais comum foram os nódulos centrolobulares em vidro fosco, frequentemente contendo calcificações, seguido de consolidação densa e de pequenos nódulos sólidos, a maioria deles calcificada. Também descrevemos o padrão de opacidades reticulares periféricas associadas a pequenos nódulos calcificados. Esses achados devem sugerir o diagnóstico de CPM no contexto de hipercalcemia.

Calcificação pulmonar metastática: relato de caso / Pulmonary metastatic calcification: a case report

Neste trabalho é relatado o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino de 48 anos de idade, portadora de insuficiência renal crônica, em diálise há 13 anos, tendo iniciado o quadro com hemoptise, febre, tosse produtiva e dispneia aos grandes esforços. A radiografia de tórax apresentou opacidades mal definidas predominando nos terços médios e inferiores dos pulmões. A tomografia computadorizada de tórax evidenciou opacidades em vidro fosco associadas com nódulos centrolobulares mal definidos, com atenuação em vidro fosco. A paciente foi submetida a lavagem broncoalveolar, que foi negativa para micobactérias e fungos. Com base nesses achados, foi realizada biópsia pulmonar a céu aberto, que revelou calcificação pulmonar metastática.

The present report describes the case of a 48-year-old female patient suffering from chronic renal failure on dialysis for 13 years. She presented with hemoptysis, fever, productive cough and dyspnea. Chest radiography showed predominance of ill-defined opacities in the middle and lower lung fields, bilaterally. Chest computed tomography showed ground-glass opacities associated with poorly defined centrilobular nodules with ground-glass attenuation. The patient was submitted to bronchoalveolar lavage that was negative for mycobacteria and fungi. On the basis of such findings, open lung biopsy was performed, which revealed metastatic pulmonary calcification.

A Case of Metastatic Pulmonary Calcification in Primary Hyperparathyroidism / 대한내분비학회지

Metastatic calcification is the deposition of calcium, in previously normal tissue, as a result of elevated plasma calcium and phosphorus product levels and has been reported in patients with parathyroid adenoma, parathyroid carcinoma, hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure, vitamin D intoxication, and osteolytic bone tumors, such as multiple myelomas. The lungs are the most common site of metastatic calcification. We have experienced metastatic pulmonary calcification in a case of primary hyperparathyroidism. A 55-year old woman was admitted due to general weakness. From the laboratory evaluation, hypercalcemia and excess production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were noted. technetium-99m-labelled sestamibi scintigraphy indicated an intense uptake in the lower pole area of the left thyroid gland, suggestive of a parathyroid adenoma. A technetium-99m phosphate (99mTc-MDP) bone scan showed increased uptakes in both lungs. A parathyroid lobectomy was performed, and primary hyperparathyroidism, due to a parathyroid adenoma, was finally diagnosed. A follow-up 99mTc-MDP bone scan showed the disappearance of the metastatic pulmonary calcification, with the clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters normalizing after 6 months.