Pulmonary CT findings in acute mercury vapour exposure.
OBJECTIVE
We describe the pulmonary computed tomography (CT) findings in acute mercury poisoning.


METHODS
Initial (n= 8) and follow-up (n= 6) chest CT examinations in eight patients exposed to mercury vapour while cutting pipes in a sulphuric acid plant were reviewed. Of the eight patients, two were asymptomatic and had normal CT results, two were asymptomatic but had abnormalities on CT, and four had both acute symptoms and positive CT results. The patients were all men whose ages ranged from 37 to 54 years (mean, 49 years).


RESULTS
Poorly defined nodules were present in five of six patients with positive CT findings, present alone in two patients or as part of a mixed pattern in three. They were random in distribution. Alveolar consolidation (n= 3) and areas of ground-glass opacity (n= 4) were observed and were more prominent in the most severely affected patients with the highest blood and urine level of mercury, predominantly in the upper and/or middle zone. These abnormal findings on CT resolved with (n= 1) or without (n= 5) steroid therapy. Pathological findings (n= 1) demonstrated acute interstitial changes predominantly with oedema.


CONCLUSIONS
We report CT findings in eight patients acutely exposed to mercury vapour. The pulmonary injury was reversible on CT in these cases. Hashimoto, M. (2001). Clinical Radiology56, 17-21.
Hashimoto
M
M
Department of Radiology, Akita Medical School of Medicine, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita City, Akita 010-0041, Japan. hashi@med.akita-u.ac.jp
Sato
K
K
Heianna
J
J
Hirano
Y
Y
Omachi
K
K
Izumi
J
J
Watarai
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002617:Chemical Industry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed