Primary malignant melanoma of the lung: review of literature and report of a case.

Less than 25 cases of primary malignant melanoma of the lung have been reported in the literature, with limited mention in the surgical literature. When published criteria are strictly applied, the actual number of cases is even fewer. We report the case of a 74-year-old man who underwent a left lower pulmonary lobectomy for a large left lower lobe mass consistent with malignancy.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis mimicking idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology. While most biopsies from patients with PAP disclose a prominent positive periodic acid-Schiff, diastase-resistant intra-alveolar exudate, and minimal interstitial thickening, interstitial fibrosis and honeycombing can be the predominant histologic findings. We recently identified two patients with PAP who initially were thought to have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but whose biopsies ultimately disclosed PAP with considerable interstitial fibrosis.