Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis and probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disease in which calcium-phosphate microliths accumulate within the alveolar space. We report cases of 2 siblings with PAM, presenting differently as regards the distribution and clinical severity. Immune cytologic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage showed a CD4 alveolitis in the radiologically most affected patient, whereas the least affected had a normal bronchoalveolar lavage analysis, demonstrating the low specificity of immune cytologic lavage analysis in diagnosing familial PAM.

Spinal tuberculosis: a report of five cases and a review.

Spinal tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon occurrence in developed countries. We present five cases of spinal TB illustrating some of the problems that can be encountered in clinical practice. Delay in diagnosis due to physicians unawareness of TB as a diagnostic possibility in patients with persistent back pain was observed in two patients.

Hyperthermia occurring with paradoxical development of cerebral tuberculomas.

A 59-year-old male Moroccan who had been mechanically ventilated for extensive pulmonary tuberculosis, suddenly developed a generalized seizure with hyperthermia. He had been receiving adequate antituberculosis treatment for 2 weeks. Brain CT scan demonstrated the development of multiple cerebral tuberculomas.

Lymph node perforation into the airway in AIDS-associated tuberculosis.

A 27 year old African woman infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented with pulmonary complaints. Her sputum smears were positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Chest roentgenogram showed right mediastinal and hilar adenopathy with a right pulmonary infiltrate.

[Treatment of tuberculosis with a fixed combination antitubercular drug in a marginal population in Brussels].

Tuberculosis is a world-wide persistent problem. Treatment is usually successful when the bacteria are drug-susceptible and patient compliance ensured. We report our results of treatment of high-risk patients without social security coverage in Brussels.