Dendriform pulmonary ossification leading to bilateral lung transplant: a case report

Metaplastic ossification within the lung is seen in a variety of diseases, usually as sequela of either a separate primary pulmonary parenchymal disease or an underlying cardiac disorder such as valvular disease. Primary intraalveolar ossification or ossification within the alveolar septa is a rare entity. Similarly, it is unusual to see overt, diffuse disease affecting the lung to the point of respiratory failure leading to lung transplant. We present a case of an adult male who underwent bilateral lung transplantation, with the native lung pathology showing diffuse, severe dendriform ossification of the bilateral upper and lower lung lobes. The gross and histologic findings along with the radiographic imaging are reviewed herein. Overall, primary ossification of the lung leading to lung transplant is a rare condition that pulmonologists caring for patients with interstitial lung disease should be aware of as a possible cause of the patient’s symptoms and lung dysfunction.