Pediatric Pulmonary Hemosiderosis

  • Etiology:
    — In pediatrics most common etiology is idiopathic
    — Repeated alveolar hemorrhage leads to hemosiderin in macrophages in alveolar wall and ultimately fibrosis
  • Imaging:
    — Initially diffuse alveolar infiltrates
    — Later fibrotic changes and honeycombing
  • DDX:
  • Complications:
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical: Severe anemia secondary to repeated hemorrhage

Radiology Cases of Pulmonary Hemosiderosis

CXR of pulmonary hemosiderosis
Initial CXR AP (left) shows diffuse alveolar infiltrates primarily in the upper lobes. CXR AP obtained a week later (right) shows resolution of the findings.