PULMONARY ALVEOLAR MICROLITHIASIS - A REVIEW INCLUDING ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND PULMONARY-FUNCTION STUDIES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • review article
    • Vol. 58  (5) , 290-300
Abstract
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a rare disease of unknown cause in which calcium phosphate microliths are deposited throughout the lungs. These deposits are of sufficient density to be almost diagnostic on chest roentgenograms. The Mayo Clinic [Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA] experience with 8 patients is added to the approximately 120 cases in the world literature. The age range of all patients is from newborn to 80 yr, with a mean age at diagnosis of about 35 yr. No sexual predominance has been noted, but in about half of the reported cases a familial pattern has been found. The progression of the disease is generally very slow, some patients having been followed-up for more than 30 yr without evidence of change. No specific treatment is available. Pulmonary function studies demonstrate a tendency toward a restrictive pattern. 99mTc scanning and scanning and transmission electron microscopy are useful procedures for analysis of pulmonary alveolar microliths.