Lung rounded atelectasis. A benign lesion due to asbestos

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Rounded atelectasis (RA) is an unusual form of pulmonary lesion often confounded with pulmonary neoplasia. We studied the main diagnostic and evolutive characteristics of a series of patients diagnosed with RA. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty patients diagnosed of RA in a tertiary hospital in Catalonia were included in the study. The diagnostic criterion of RA was strictly based on thoracic CT. Clinical data and pulmonary function tests were also evaluated. Fourteen patients underwent a long term follow-up. RESULTS: Asbestos was the cause of RA in 13 cases (65%); 7 had previously had homolateral pleural effusion; 5 pulmonary tuberculosis and in 1 case RA appeared at the lung biopsy site. The most frequent localization was inferior lobes and left side (70%). Eighteen patients had a ventilatory disorder: 10 restrictive, 6 mixed and 2 obstructive. In no case, RA evolved to malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: RA is a benign lesion mainly due to asbestos showing well-defined morphological characteristics.