title: Zinc chloride (smoke bomb) inhalation lung injury: clinical presentations, high-resolution CT findings, and pulmonary function test results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Zinc chloride smoke inhalation injury (ZCSII) is uncommon and has been rarely described in previous studies. We hypothesized that structural changes of the lung might correlate with pulmonary function. To answer this question, we correlated findings from high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan and the results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with ZCSII.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients who had been hospitalized with ZCSII-related conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included HRCT scan scores (0 to 100), static and dynamic lung volumes, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D(LCO)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRCT scans and PFTs were performed initially after injury (range, 3 to 21 days) in all patients and during the follow-up period (range, 27 to 66 days) in 10 patients. The predominant CT scan findings were patchy or diffuse ground-glass opacities with or without consolidation. The majority of patients showed a significant reduction of FVC, FEV1, total lung capacity, and D(LCO), but normal FEV1/FVC ratio values. Changes of functional parameters correlated well with HRCT scan scores. Substantial improvements in CT scan abnormalities and pulmonary function were observed at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of our patients with ZCSII presented with a predominant parenchymal injury of the lung that was consistent with a restrictive type of functional impairment and a reduction in Dlco rather than with obstructive disease. Our results suggest that HRCT scanning and pulmonary function testing may reliably predict the severity of ZCSII.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hsian-He
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Ching
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tzao
authors.forename: Wei-Chou
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chin-Pyng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ho-Jui
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Cheng-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wann-Cherng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Perng
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D002712:Chlorides / Q000506:poisoning*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005107:Explosions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015208:Smoke Inhalation Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D002712:Chlorides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C016837:zinc chloride