title: Exogenous lipoid pneumonia: high-resolution CT findings.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of exogenous lipoid pneumonia. High-resolution computed tomography was obtained in 25 patients with proven exogenous lipoid pneumonia resulting from aspiration of squalene (derived from shark liver oil). Diagnosis was based on biopsy (n = 9), bronchoalveolar lavage (n = 8), or sputum cytology and clinical findings (n = 8). The clinical history of taking squalene was confirmed in all patients. The CT findings were classified into three patterns: diffuse ground-glass opacity, consolidation, and interstitial abnormalities. Distribution of the abnormalities, duration of taking squalene, predisposing factors for aspiration, and route of administration were analyzed. Ten patients showed diffuse ground-glass opacity pattern. Seven of 10 patients had predisposing conditions such as unconsciousness, pharyngeal dysmotility, or motor disturbances, and 6 patients had a recent history of taking large amount of squalene through nasal route. Seven patients who had consolidation pattern had a history of taking squalene for several months and did not have any predisposing factor. All of the 5 patients who had a pattern of interstitial abnormalities had a history of taking squalene longer than 1 year and showed segmental distribution of interstitial thickening with interposing ground-glass opacities. Three patients simultaneously had two different patterns at different lobes of the lung. The HRCT findings of lipoid pneumonia are ground-glass opacities, consolidation, and interstitial abnormalities. These HRCT findings with appropriate inquiries could be useful for diagnosis of exogenous lipoid pneumonia.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Lee
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Im
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Song
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Seo
authors: T H
authors: TH
authors: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011017:Pneumonia, Lipid / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology; D013185:Squalene / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D013185:Squalene