[Round atelectasis of the lung: clinicopathological study of 6 cases and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE

To report about 6 new patients with round atelectasis of the lung, 1 of them professionally exposed to asbestos and another to silicates.

RESULTS

The patients, 5 males and 1 female, presented with a peripheral, rounded pulmonary opacity, simulating a neoplasm. The examination of the surgical specimen revealed a pleuritis, with multiple pleural folding: the underlying lung parenchima was compressed, but otherwise unremarkable.

CONCLUSIONS

Round atelectasis is relatively unusual for the pathologist. However, the correct diagnosis is potentially important, because the lesion can be the sign of a significant asbestos exposure.