Characteristic aspects of alveolar proteinosis diagnosis

alveolar proteinosis is an uncommon pulmonary disease characterized by an accumulation of surfactant in terminal airway and alveoli, thereby impairing gas exchange and engendering respiratory insufficiency in some cases. three clinically and etiologically distinct forms of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis are recognized: congenital, secondary and idiopathic, the latter corresponding to 90% of the cases. in this case report we present a young male patient that was diagnosed with alveolar proteinosis. computed tomography of the thorax, bronchoscopy and transbronchial biopsy were performed. the histopathologic aspect was characteristic. the patient was discharged in good health conditions and remains asymptomatic to date.