title: Bullous degeneration of the left lower lobe in a heroin addict.
abstract: A 34 yr old heroin addict was referred because of chest pain caused by air-trapping in a bulla in the left lower lobe. There was a marked difference between the functional residual capacity measured by body-plethysmography and helium dilution. A slow wash-in and wash-out were demonstrated by ventilation scintigraphy with Xenon133. Bullous degeneration is a known complication of intravenous drug abuse. Usually these bullae are found in the upper lobes. Possible causative mechanisms are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Pulmonary Diseases, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Smeenk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serlie
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: van der Jagt
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Postmus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011865:Radioisotope Dilution Technique