Résumé
Objective To analyze the epidemiology,clinical and imageological characteristics,diagnosis,misdiagnosis,treatment and prognosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) reported in China in recent 20 years,in an attempt to provide important clues for prompt and accurate diagnosis of PAP.Methods Clinical data of PAP from 1988 to 2008 in China were retrospectively analyzed and the clinical data of 126 patients with PAP which were misdiagnozed were summarized.Results There were 19 cases misdiagnozed with pneumonia,24 cases with pulmonary cancer,18 cases with bronchitis,19 cases with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,15 cases with pulmonary tuberculosis,10 cases with eosinophilic pneumonia,9 cases with sarcoidosis,5 cases with fungus pneumonia.The clinical manifestations of PAP had no specificity and the imageology manifestation was various.Its final diagnosis mainly depended on the examination of brochoalveolar lavage fluid and/or lung biopsy,and pathologic examination.Conclusions The diversity of clinical manifestations of PAP has resulted in higher clinical misdiagnosis rate.WhoLe lung irrigation is the safest and the most effective way to treat PAP.