Shark liver oil-induced lipoid pneumonia in pigs: correlation of thin-section CT and histopathologic findings.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sequential changes in thin-section computed tomographic (CT) findings after inducement of lipoid pneumonia and provide the histopathologic bases of these findings.


METHODS
Shark liver oil was administered to 12 sites in seven pigs. Thin-section CT scans were obtained within 1 hour and at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks after oil administration. Scans were assessed for opacity, distribution, location at the lobular level, extent, and volume of the lesions. The CT number in consolidation areas also was measured. Findings at CT were correlated with those in the histopathologic specimens.


RESULTS
Diffuse ground-glass opacity was noted on all immediately obtained scans. The opacity of the lesions was highest at 1 week; then it decreased gradually to an area of ground-glass opacity. The extent and volume of the lesions decreased at follow-up CT. Histopathologically, the lesions showed a lobular distribution sharply demarcated from the normal lungs. The lobules of decreased volume showed residual thickening of the alveolar walls with bronchiolectasis and mild collagen deposition of the interlobular septa. Pathologic examination of the low-attenuating consolidation area at CT revealed evidence of partial aeration.


CONCLUSIONS
Thin-section CT findings of lipoid pneumonia include ground-glass opacity and airspace consolidation, followed by complete or incomplete resolution with volume loss and septal thickening. Low-attenuating consolidation at CT does not always indicate the presence of fat.
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, South Korea.
J B
JB
Seo
J G
JG
Im
W S
WS
Kim
C K
CK
Seong
J W
JW
Song
J H
JH
Chung
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005395:Fish Oils; D008099:Liver; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011017:Pneumonia, Lipid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D012754:Sharks; D013552:Swine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D005395:Fish Oils