Silicosis complicated with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis caused by long-term dust inhalation during construction of bridge pier columns: A case report

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is characterized by the accumulation of surfactant material in alveoli. Few aPAP cases with a history of dust inhalation show both paves stone-like changes and micronodules in the chest CT scan. We present a 52-year-old male patient withsilicosis complicated with aPAP due to long-term dust inhalation during the construction of bridge piers columns. In this case report, chest CT of the patient displayed nonuniform ground-glass and patchy shadows in both lungs, paving stone-like changes, as well as diffuse distribution of high-density small nodular shadows, and the nodules tended to confluence.