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Lipoid pneumonia differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ramyar Ghandriz MD[2]

Overview

Lipod pneumonia must be differentiated from other diseases that cause cough with basilar infiltrates, such as bacterial pneumonia, viral pneumonia, congestive heart failure, pulmonary fibrosis, and aspiration pneumonia. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is usually misdiagnosed as community-acquired pneumonia. In patients at risk of aspiration early CT scan is very useful for further diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia. Since lipid-laden pneumonia is very sensitive but may not be very specific, the diagnosis of exogenous lipoid pneumonia is based on the triad of: History of mineral oil ingestion or vaping, compatible radiological findings, and presence of intra-alveolar lipids and/or lipid-laden macrophages.

Differentiating lipoid pneumonia from other Diseases

    1. History of mineral oil ingestion or vaping
    2. Compatible radiological findings
    3. Presence of intra-alveolar lipids and/or lipid-laden macrophages
Diseases Diagnostic tests Physical Examination Symptoms Past medical history Other Findings
CT scan and MRI EKG Chest X-ray Tachypnea Tachycardia Fever Chest Pain Hemoptysis Dyspnea on Exertion Wheezing Chest Tenderness Nasalopharyngeal Ulceration Carotid Bruit
Pulmonary embolism
  • On CT angiography:
    • Intra-luminal filling defect
  • On MRI:
    • Narrowing of involved vessel
    • No contrast seen distal to obstruction
    • Polo-mint sign (partial filling defect surrounded by contrast)
βœ” βœ” βœ” (Low grade) βœ” βœ” (In case of massive PE) βœ”
Congestive heart failure
  • Goldberg’s criteria may aid in diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction: (High specificity)
    • SV1 or SV2 + RV5 or RV6 β‰₯3.5 mV
    • Total QRS amplitude in each of the limb leads ≀0.8 mV
    • R/S ratio <1 in lead V4
βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ”
Percarditis
  • ST elevation
  • PR depression
  • Large collection of fluid inside the pericardial sac (pericardial effusion)
  • Calcification of pericardial sac
βœ” βœ” βœ” (Low grade) βœ” (Relieved by sitting up and leaning forward) βœ”
  • May be clinically classified into:
    • Acute (< 6 weeks)
    • Sub-acute (6 weeks – 6 months)
    • Chronic (> 6 months)
Pneumonia βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ”
Vasculitis

Homogeneous, circumferential vessel wall swelling

βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ”
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • On CT scan:
  • On MRI:
    • Increased diameter of pulmonary arteries
    • Peripheral pulmonary vasculature attentuation
    • Loss of retrosternal airspace due to right ventricular enlargement
    • Hyperpolarized Helium MRI may show progressively poor ventilation and destruction of lung
βœ” βœ” βœ” βœ”

References

  1. ↑ Bell MM (2015). “Lipoid pneumonia: An unusual and preventable illness in elderly patients”. Can Fam Physician. 61 (9): 775–7. PMCΒ 4569110. PMIDΒ 26371101.
  2. ↑ Parameswaran, K.; Anvari, M.; Efthimiadis, A.; Kamada, D.; Hargreave, F.e; Allen, C.j (2000). “Lipid-laden macrophages in induced sputum are a marker of oropharyngeal reflux and possible gastric aspiration”. European Respiratory Journal. 16 (6): 1119–1122. doi:10.1034/j.1399-3003.2000.16f17.x. ISSNΒ 0903-1936.
  3. ↑ Levade T, Salvayre R, Dongay G, Dang QQ, Vieu C, Bessac A; et al. (1987). “Chemical analysis of the bronchoalveolar washing fluid in the diagnosis of liquid paraffin pneumonia”. J Clin Chem Clin Biochem. 25 (1): 45–8. PMIDΒ 3559482.
  4. ↑ Gattuso P, Reddy VB, Castelli MJ (1991). “Exogenous lipoid pneumonitis due to Vicks Vaporub inhalation diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology”. Cytopathology. 2 (6): 315–6. PMIDΒ 1801953.
  5. ↑ Ferretti, Gilbert R.; Jankowski, Adrien; RodiΓ¨re, Mathieu; Brichon, Pierre Yves; Brambilla, Christian; Lantuejoul, Sylvie (2008). “CT-guided Biopsy of Nonresolving Focal Air Space Consolidation”. Journal of Thoracic Imaging. 23 (1): 7–12. doi:10.1097/RTI.0b013e3181453e04. ISSNΒ 0883-5993.
  6. ↑ Kuroyama, Muneyoshi; Kagawa, Hiroyuki; Kitada, Seigo; Maekura, Ryoji; Mori, Masahide; Hirano, Hiroshi (2015). “Exogenous lipoid pneumonia caused by repeated sesame oil pulling: a report of two cases”. BMC Pulmonary Medicine. 15 (1). doi:10.1186/s12890-015-0134-8. ISSNΒ 1471-2466.
  7. ↑ Betancourt, Sonia L.; Martinez-Jimenez, Santiago; Rossi, Santiago E.; Truong, Mylene T.; Carrillo, Jorge; Erasmus, Jeremy J. (2010). “Lipoid Pneumonia: Spectrum of Clinical and Radiologic Manifestations”. American Journal of Roentgenology. 194 (1): 103–109. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3040. ISSNΒ 0361-803X.

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