Summary
Mineralization in pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The disease is characterized by psammoma like calcifications composed of hydroxyapatite crystals. The calcifications were surrounded by typical forming cells and matrix composed of collagen fibers arranged in a longitudinal pattern. Abundant calcifying extracellular matrix vesicles were found between the cells and the calcified fronts. The type of calcification found in the present lesion is similar to ectopic primary mineralization in other diseases, embryonal ossification and bone wound healing.
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This study was supported by a grant from the Government of Israel, The Ministry of Health
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Bab, I., Rosenmann, E., Ne'eman, Z. et al. The occurrence of extracellular matrix vesicles in pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 391, 357–361 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709168
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709168