Surfactant protein B deficiency: radiographic manifestations.

Surfactant is a complex structure primarily composed of phospholipids, but containing essential proteins as well. Congenital deficiency of Surfactant Protein-B (SPB) has recently been documented for the first time in two siblings. The pathologic findings in these infants was that of congenital pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and the radiographic manifestations were strikingly similar to hyaline membrane disease.