Pediatric electronic cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI): updates in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic era

Pediatr Radiol. 2022 Sep;52(10):2009-2016. doi: 10.1007/s00247-022-05454-z. Epub 2022 Aug 19.

Abstract

Electronic cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) is a toxic inhalational injury that surged in late 2019 and early 2020, immediately prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although EVALI cases have significantly decreased, they are still encountered, especially among adolescents. While several characteristic imaging findings and patterns of EVALI have been described, some of them can overlap with the imaging features of COVID-19 pneumonia. We provide a comprehensive review of EVALI that includes the latest updates and highlight the important role of radiologists as contributors to the appropriate and timely care of pediatric patients with this diagnosis.

Keywords: Children; Computed tomography; Coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia; E-cigarette or vaping product use–associated lung injury; Imaging; Pediatric; Radiography.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • COVID-19*
  • Child
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems*
  • Humans
  • Lung Injury* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pandemics
  • Vaping* / adverse effects