Abstract.
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.
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Özçelik, U., Gülsün, M., Göçmen, A. et al. Treatment and follow-up of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis with disodium editronate: radiological demonstration. Ped Radiol 32, 380–383 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-001-0651-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-001-0651-x