PEDIATRICS Vol. 28 No. 4 October 1961, pp. 650-654
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Clark, R. B.
Right arrow Articles by Johnson, F. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Clark, R. B.
Right arrow Articles by Johnson, F. C.

IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY ALVEOLAR MICROLITHIASIS

A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature

Robert B. Clark M.D.1 and F. Craig Johnson M.D.1

1 The Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado

An asymptomatic case of idiopathic pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in a child is described, with an 8-year follow-up. A review of the world literature indicates that this is an uncommon, often familial, disease, occurring in males and females equally. It is characterized by extensive alveolar calculi and can easily be suspected from the appearance of a roentgenogram of the lungs. When the disease is discovered the symptoms are usually absent to minimal, in contrast to the apparently severe involvement of the lung. Probably the majority of the patients develop the disease during childhood. The usual course is slow progression, terminating in cardiopulmonary failure during middle age. The etiology remains obscure, and there is no known treatment.