Cytomegalic Inclusion Pneumonitis in the Adult

Abstract
In salivary gland virus disease, the constant association of the specific inclusion bodies with diffuse structural alterations in the liver, lung and brain has established a pathologic entity in newborns and infants. In the adult the pathologic cognizance of the same disease has been recorded only in 3 previous occasions. This communication presents 2 additional cases of adult salivary gland pneumonitis (cytomegalic inclusion pneumonitis) and in 1 example the disease was diagnosed during life through biopsy study of the lung. The lesions in the lung were diffuse and there was an associated prominent mononuclear cell response. Histochemical studies on the inclusions both nuclear and cytoplasmic, were carried out. Thoughts on the pathogenesis of the disease are put forward in this communication stressing the concept that altered tissue susceptibility to the dormant salivary gland virus may lead to a fulminating infection.
Keywords