Dendriform Pulmonary Ossification: Findings from Eight Years of Observation

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 61; no. 5; pp. 715 - 717
• Main Authors: Tsuchiya, Takehiro, Tanaka, Makoto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 01.03.2022; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Adult; Airway management; Biopsy; Case Report; clinical course; Computed tomography; dendriform pulmonary ossification; Humans; Internal medicine; Lung - pathology; Lung Diseases - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Ossification; Ossification, Heterotopic - complications; Ossification, Heterotopic - diagnostic imaging; Ossification, Heterotopic - surgery; Osteogenesis; prognosis; pulmonary ossification; Respiratory function; Sarcoidosis; Spicules; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; clinical course; pulmonary ossification; prognosis; dendriform pulmonary ossification
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.7785-21

Dendriform pulmonary ossification is a rare condition characterized by branching bony spicules. A 33-year-old man was clinically considered to have sarcoidosis. At 53 years old, another attending physician performed a detailed evaluation. Computed tomography (CT) showed a fine nodular pattern with foci of calcifications and pulmonary function testing showed peripheral airway obstruction. We performed a surgical biopsy. A histological examination revealed dendriform pulmonary ossification. After surgery, CT showed progression of some lesions; the pulmonary function had also decreased slightly. Since dendriform pulmonary ossification might be a progressive disease, we should perform long-term follow-up.