ABSTRACT COVID‐19 pneumonia is a strong radiological mimicker of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), making their differentiation difficult. PAP is a rare diffuse lung disease caused by the accumulation of surfactant lipoproteins within the alveoli, resulting in impaired gas exchange and respiratory failure, with an estimated prevalence of 3.7–6.2 cases per million. This report presents a rare case of PAP complicated by COVID‐19 pneumonia in a 42‐year‐old man who presented with chills, fatigue, dyspnea and fever. Clinical, laboratory and radiological features were thoroughly assessed. High‐resolution CT revealed a crazy‐paving pattern with patchy consolidations, diffuse ground‐glass opacities and septal thickening. Early recognition of lung diseases with overlapping imaging features is essential to guide management and prevent adverse outcomes. The coexistence of PAP and COVID‐19 was associated with rapid clinical deterioration and poor prognosis. Further studies are needed to clarify underlying mechanisms and optimise treatment strategies.
Mawla et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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