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

Pediatr Radiol. 2002 May;32(5):380-3. doi: 10.1007/s00247-001-0651-x. Epub 2002 Feb 21.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Etidronic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Failure to Thrive / complications
  • Failure to Thrive / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lithiasis / complications
  • Lithiasis / drug therapy*
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Alveoli*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Etidronic Acid