THE INCIDENCE, AND POLARIZATION OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PULMONARY ALVEOLAR CALCOSPHER1TIES (CORPORA AMYLACEA) IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS - A RETROSPECTIVE CLINICOPATHOLOGIC STUDY OF 210 AUTOPSY PATIENTS

摘要

Alveolar microlithiasis is a rare pulmonary disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized histologically by concentrically laminated crystalloid calcified bodies (calcospherities, corpora amylacea) in the alveoli. Corpora amylacea (calcospherities) are eosinophilic, congophilic rounded, lamellated proteinaceous bodies, consisting mainly of calcium phosphate, and calcium carbonate. They are found in both normal and diseased lungs. Most of the patients are asymptomatic, but mild dyspnoe, restrictive lung disease, and cor pulmonale (with dramatic miliary roentgenographic changes) may also develop.