Objective: When crushed oral tablets are injected i.v., their filler material (excipient) can induce a potentially fatal foreign-body reaction in pulmonary arterioles, presenting as dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension with centrilobular nodules on CT. We will describe the imaging and pathologic features of "excipient lung disease."
Conclusion: The radiologist has a critical role in recognizing and reporting excipient lung disease because the referring clinician may be unaware of the patient's i.v. drug abuse.
Keywords: centrilobular nodules; drug abuse; excipient; microcrystalline cellulose; oral tablet; pulmonary arterial hypertension; talc.