Electron microscopic findings in BAL of a fire-eater after petroleum aspiration.
Hydrocarbon pneumonitis, known also as fire-eater pneumonia, always develops after aspiration of low-viscosity, volatile hydrocarbides. Despite the presence of clear-cut indicators for an infection, it is considered to be an acute pseudoinfectious lung disease. In this article, we report on a relatively rare clinical picture of a 30-year-old man after accidental petroleum aspiration. In addition to the usual clinical and instrumental examinations, we also performed, for the first time, electron microscopic investigations of the BAL specimen. A striking finding was the occurrence of macrophages (40%) with numerous lipoid inclusions that exhibited all morphologic signs of an activation as well as neutrophil granulocytes (33%), lymphocytes (21%), and eosinophils (6%). Despite a large and necrotizing infiltration of the right lower lobe, the clinical course was uneventful with complete recovery.
Burkhardt
Olaf
O
Department of Chest and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Heckeshorn, Berlin, Germany.
Merker
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Shakibaei
Mehdi
M
Lode
Hartmut
H
D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects; D001239:Inhalation; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D010578:Petroleum