Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia in Laryngectomy Patients: Radiological Findings

Arch Bronconeumol. 2015 Jul;51(7):e36-9. doi: 10.1016/j.arbres.2014.09.002. Epub 2014 Oct 23.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) is a rare (incidence 1.0%-2.5%), often under-diagnosed disease, caused by the aspiration and accumulation of exogenous lipids within the pulmonary alveoli. Various cases have been described due to inhalation of lubricants via the nasal passages and oropharynx, aspiration of mineral oils in laxatives in patients with eating disorders, application of lip gloss, occupational exposure to liquid paraffin or mineral oils ("fire-eaters", industrial use in washing of machinery, automobile workshops, plastic paints, etc.) and application of Vaseline during the insertion of nasogastric tubes and in the care of tracheotomy patients. ELP usually presents radiologically as areas of low-attenuation peribronchial consolidation and ground glass opacities, with a predominantly bibasal distribution. We present 5 cases of long-standing laryngectomy patients diagnosed with ELP who admitted using Vaseline in their tracheal stoma care.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance; Neumonía; Pneumonia; Resonancia magnética; Tomografía computarizada; Tracheotomy.; Traqueotomía..

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intubation / methods*
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Laryngectomy*
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Lubricants / adverse effects*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Macrophages / chemistry
  • Macrophages / ultrastructure
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging*
  • Petrolatum / adverse effects*
  • Pneumonia, Aspiration / chemically induced
  • Pneumonia, Aspiration / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Postoperative Complications / chemically induced
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Surgical Stomas*
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Tracheostomy*

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Lubricants
  • Petrolatum