Cystic fibrosis. An adult perspective

We treated a patient with an unusual case of cystic fibrosis in whom the diagnosis was not made until age 42 years, the predominant clinical manifestation was recurrent pancreatitis, and the chest roentgenogram and results of pulmonary function tests were normal between bouts of pneumonia. As cystic fibrosis may simulate more benign conditions often seen in adults, the diagnosis must be suspected and confirmed for optimal management. Internists must play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and management of this disease.