PULMONARY ALVEOLAR PROTEINOSIS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19: THE RADIOLOGIC MIMICKER

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Lung Cancer Imaging Case Report Posters 1 SESSION TYPE Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON 10/17/2022 1215 pm - 0115 pm INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a lung condition that is caused by a build-up of proteins, fats, and other substances (collectively called surfactants) in the alveoli of the lungs. Here we describe a case of a 47-year-old female diagnosed with PAP, with radiologic features conflicting with Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pneumonia. CASE PRESENTATION The patient is a 47-year-old female with no significant medical history who presents to the outpatient pulmonology clinic for shortness of breath evaluation. She reported that for the past 3-4 months she has been having progressively worsening shortness of breath (SOB) associated with dry cough, and nasal congestion. She reports no recent illness, no history of COVID or COVID exposure, no second-hand smoke exposure, no toxin/chemical exposure, no pets/birds at home. Her SOB has been impacting her lifestyle. Pulmonary function tests showed no obstruction, moderate restriction, mildly decreased diffusion capacity. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed multiple ground-glass opacities with septal wall thickening (appears crazy paving pattern) - suggestive of infection or inflammatory process. Infectious/inflammatory work up with HIV, COVID-19, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) panel, autoimmune panel, immunoglobulins, QuantiFERON gold, IgM mycoplasma antibodies was negative. Repeat CT chest in 6 weeks as per patient request, was unchanged from prior. A bronchoscopy was done, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) negative for infection - fungal, acid-fast bacilli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis;GMS (Grocott's methenamine silver) stain negative for fungus;negative PCP (Pneumocystis pneumonia);left upper lobe and left lung biopsy showed lung parenchyma with scant amorphous eosinophilic material in alveolar sacs, Periodic Acid-Schiff stain (PAS) stain was positive confirming PAP diagnosis. DISCUSSION: PAP is a rare disease, affecting about 1 person in 100,000 people worldwide, with fewer than 10,000 of them in the United States. The "crazy paving pattern" is characteristic of PAP but recently it has appeared in the list of radiologic findings for COVID 19 pneumonia1,2,3. In these COVID times, these kinds of interactions might make the decision tougher, often leading to misdiagnosis. The decision of diagnosis/treatment should be based on symptoms and their duration, medical history, previous tests, response to treatment. Given our patient never had a COVID infection in the past or current infection, CT chest was typical for PAP with a crazy-paving pattern, no significant subjective/radiological improvement lead us to the diagnosis of PAP with eventual work up with bronchoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: A high index of suspicion is needed for the diagnosis of such rare diseases as PAP, which can be misdiagnosed as COVID-19 pneumonia, given radiological similarities. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve morbidity and mortality of PAP. Reference #1 PAP with COVID-19 Radiology - Differential Diagnosis Discussion, PMID 33646114 Reference #2 Proteinaceous Lung With COVID-19 The Mimicker, PMID 34703683 Reference #3 COVID-19 pneumonia the great radiological mimicker - https//insightsimaging.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13244-020-00933-z DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Ahmad Al-Alwan No relevant relationships by Arundhati Chandini Arjun No relevant relationships by Farhan Khalid no disclosure submitted for Boning Li;No relevant relationships by Rana Prathap Padappayil No relevant relationships by Raghu Tiperneni