CTICasesFat Embolism Syndrome
Imaging findings
Serial chest radiographs in a 19-year-old male with femur and pelvic fractures show rapid development of diffuse, bilateral consolidations. CT shows extensive, diffuse ground-glass opacities with subpleural sparing, which resolved completely over four days.
Key takeaways
Fat embolism syndrome is a systemic manifestation of long-bone or pelvic fractures. In the lungs, embolized fat is broken down into toxic free fatty acids, causing chemical pneumonitis and acute lung injury characterized by rapid resolution within days.
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