Treatment and follow-up of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with disodium editronate: radiological demonstration

• Published in: Pediatric radiology Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 380 - 383
• Main Authors: ÖZCELIK, Ugur, GÜLSÜN, Meltem, GÖCMEN, Ayhan, ARIYÜREK, Macit, KIPER, Nural, ANADOL, Deniz, COBANOGLU, Nazan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-05-2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Etidronic Acid - therapeutic use; Failure to Thrive - complications; Failure to Thrive - drug therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lithiasis - complications; Lithiasis - drug therapy; Lung Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Lung Diseases - drug therapy; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Pulmonary Alveoli; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiography, Thoracic; Respiratory system; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Human; Microlithiasis; Lung disease; Radiodiagnosis; Respiratory disease; Thorax; Case study; Radiography; Treatment; Pulmonary alveolus; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Diagnosis; Child
• ISSN: 0301-0449; 1432-1998
• DOI: 10.1007/s00247-001-0651-x

A 9-year-old girl with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is presented. She was asymptomatic except for failure to thrive. Plain chest radiographs on admission showed sand-like opacities with calcific densities throughout both lung fields, predominantly in the lower zones. A black pleural line was also seen between the ribs and lung parenchyma. High-resolution CT (HRCT) revealed diffuse ground-glass opacities throughout both lungs, micronodular densities, interlobular septal thickening, linear calcifications along the pleura and a few scattered subpleural cysts. Disodium editronate, which is known to inhibit the microcrystal growth of hydroxyapatite, was started at 10 mg/kg per day orally. After 1 year of therapy, considerable regression of the calcific densities was detected on chest radiographs and HRCT scans.