CTICasesLipoid Pneumonia
Imaging findings
Chest CT shows a large, spiculated mass-like area of consolidation in the right upper lobe containing focal areas of fat attenuation (-30 to -80 HU) and dystrophic calcification, with surrounding centrilobular nodules. PET/CT shows intense FDG avidity of the mass, and biopsy shows lipid-laden macrophages and granulomatous inflammation. The patient has a history of long-term intranasal Vicks VapoRub application.
Key takeaways
Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is caused by the aspiration of lipid-containing substances, such as mineral oil or petroleum jelly (Vicks VapoRub). It classically presents as a lower or upper lobe mass containing fat attenuation and calcification. Because the inflammatory response is chronic, the mass can be highly hypermetabolic on PET, mimicking lung carcinoma, and biopsy showing vacuolated macrophages (lipid-laden) is diagnostic.
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Inhalation-Induced BronchiolitisExposure
- Bronchial AtresiaCongenital
- Aortic Contrast Mixing ArtifactArtifact
- Restrictive Allograft SyndromeIatrogenic
- Multinodular GoiterMetabolic
- Chronic Beryllium DiseaseExposure
- Relapsing PolychondritisAutoimmune
- West Nile Virus InfectionInfection
See all cases from December 15, 2017 →