[Spiral CT findings of pulmonary infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate spiral CT findings of pulmonary infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin.


METHODS
The clinical data and spiral CT findings of 21 patients with pulmonary infection due to intravenous injection of heroin were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Pulmonary lesions were detected in all these cases in the initial examination by spiral CT plain scan, including pneumatocele in 13 (61.9%), pulmonary cavity in 13 (61.9%), pulmonary consolidation in 15 (71.4%), and plural lesions in 8 cases (38.1%) of which 7 (33.3%) had plural effusion and 1 (0.48%) had encapsulated hydropneumothorax. Three cases had only one of the lesions and 18 had at least 2 of them. The CT images in each case were compared with X-ray film, and the latter displayed abnormalities in 20 cases (95.2%). X-ray failed to detect the lesions in 1 case (4.8%), in which pneumatocele was found in CT images.


CONCLUSIONS
The pulmonary lesions of pulmonary pneumatocele, cavity, consolidation, and plural lesions are specific CT manifestations of hematogenous pulmonary suppurative infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin.
Chen
Zhong
Z
Department of Radiology, Xinhui People's Hospital of Guangdong Province, Jiangmen 529100, China. chenzhongimage@yahoo.com.cn
Lian
Xu-hui
XH
Ye
Wen-qin
WQ
Wen
Kang-yan
KY
Chen
Jing-yuan
JY
Rong
Xiao-bing
XB
Wang
Xiao-bo
XB
D000328:Adult; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
D003932:Heroin