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Retention of Radioiron in the Lungs of a Woman with Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis
- RICHARD L. DEGOWIN, M.D.;
- LEIF B. SORENSEN, M.D.;
- DONALD B. CHARLESTON, M.S.;
- ALEXANDER GOTTSCHALK, M.D.; and
- JAMES H. GREENWALD, M.D.
- Requests for reprints should be addressed to Richard L. DeGowin, M.D., Argonne Cancer Research Hospital, 950 E. 59th St., Chicago, Ill. 60637.
SUMMARY
This paper presents studies of a menopausal woman with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis who had only slight hemoptysis, no measurable blood loss, but a major intrapulmonary hemorrhage.
Labeled hemoglobin-iron sequestered in the lung could not be readily mobilized by the body or with an iron-chelating agent in the presence of an iron-responsive hypochromic anemia.
In this case, linear profile scanning proved helpful in the diagnosis of pulmonary hemorrhage.
Finally, idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis should be considered as a cause of unexplained cough, ephemeral pulmonary infiltrates, and iron-responsive hypochromic anemia in any age patient. Diagnosis may be made by looking for hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the sputum or gastric aspirates, and by performing radioisotope studies and a lung biopsy.
Article and Author Information
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From the Departments of Medicine and Radiology, University of Chicago; and the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital (operated by the University of Chicago for the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission); Chicago, Ill.
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This study was supported in part by the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital, Chicago, Ill.
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Dr. DeGowin was supported in this study by research career development award 1-KO 3-CA 15719-01, National Cancer Institute, U. S. Public Health Service, Washington, D. C.
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- Received May 10, 1968.
- Accepted July 18, 1968.
