title: Toxic lung injury in a patient addicted to "legal highs" - case study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxic lung injury may manifest itself in many different ways, ranging from respiratory tract irritation and pulmonary edema in severe cases to constrictive bronchiolitis, being a more distant consequence. It is most often the result of accidental exposure to harmful substances at work, at home, or a consequence of industrial disaster.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article presents a case of toxic lung injury which occurred after inhalation of legal highs, the so-called "artificial hashish" and at first presented itself radiologically as interstitial pneumonia with pleural effusion and clinically as hypoxemic respiratory insufficiency. After treatment with high doses of steroids, it was histopathologically diagnosed as organizing pneumonia with lipid bodies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the lack of pathognomonic radiological images for toxic lung injury, information on possible etiology of irritants is very important. As novel psychoactive substances appeared in Europe, they should be considered as the cause of toxic lung injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mazovian Center for Treatment of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis in Otwock, Otwock, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kulhawik
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Independent Public Clinical Hospital, Otwock, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walecki
keywords: Drugs; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Lung Injury; Radiography; Respiratory Insufficiency