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Vaping and Pneumonia

Previously, lipoid pneumonia was primarily associated with the use of oil-based laxatives and accidental aspiration. That's changing, though, as more people take up vaping, voluntarily introducing lipid particles into their lungs. Of course, that doesn't mean that everyone who vapes will develop lipoid pneumonia. But they are putting themselves at risk. "Though it has not been studied well," Freeman said, "I suspect if you were to do a bronchoscopy on someone who vapes regularly, we may detect low levels of lipid particles in their lungs, even when they haven't had enough to cause an injury. Thus, lipid droplets may not be causing irritation or injury to the lungs in all cases, but they are…

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Articles of Interest

Lipoid Pneumonia: A Review

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is an uncommon condition resulting from aspiration or inhalation of fatlike material, such as mineral oil found in laxatives and various aerosolized industrial materials. These substances elicit a foreign body reaction and proliferative fibrosis in the lung. Because symptoms are absent or nonspecific and the roentrogenographic findings simulate other disease, exogenous lipoid pneumonia is often unrecognized. Yet appropriate historical inquiries and simple laboratory tests can lead to the correct diagnosis.

An interesting case of lipoid pneumonia

There are two types of LP: exogenous and endogenous. The exogenous LP occurs when the fat particles enter from outside the body and reach the lungs via the nose or mouth5. The endogenous LP occurs in airway obstruction.

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia: when radiologist makes the difference

Pulmonary alterations found in HRCT exams can be confused with other lung diseases (especially lung tumors) and they are always a challenge even for the most experienced radiologist. In our experience, although non-specific, consolidation areas with low HU values and crazy-paving pattern are frequently associated in ELP.

Lipoid Pneumonia - Fat Chance of Making the Diagnosis?

Lipoid pneumonia is caused by the accumulation of lipids in the alveoli. It is an uncommon and likely underdiagnosed lung disease whose natural history has been poorly characterized.

Lipoid pneumonia and e-cigarette vaping

The increase in the use of electronic cigarettes has led to the recent identification of several types of lung damage, among which lipoid pneumonia stands out, characterized by the presence of lipids in the alveoli. Due to its non-specific clinical presentation and poor characterization of its natural history, its diagnosis is often overlooked or delayed. Accurate diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, which implies knowledge of this disease and its radiological manifestations, to subsequently confirm it by demonstrating lipid-laden macrophages in samples of lung lesions.

Lipoid Pneumonia: A Silent Complication of Mineral Oil Aspiration

Chronic constipation is a common symptom in pediatrics, and physicians often use mineral oil to treat chronic constipation in children. Mineral oil, a hydrocarbon, may not elicit a normal protective cough reflex and may impair mucociliary transport. These effects can increase the likelihood of its aspiration and subsequent impaired clearance from the respiratory tract.

Lipoid Pneumonia: Spectrum of Clinical and Radiologic Manifestations

Lipoid pneumonia can be either exogenous or endogenous in cause based on the source of the lipid. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia usually occurs when animal fats or mineral or vegetable oils are aspirated or inhaled [1], whereas endogenous lipoid pneumonia results from lipid accumulation within intraalveolar macrophages in the setting of bronchial obstruction, chronic pulmonary infection, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, or fat storage diseases

Not Your Typical Pneumonia: A Case of Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia

The constellation of chronic cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis can include a broad range of differential diagnoses. Although uncommon, exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) should be considered when patients present with this symptom complex.

Resources

Radiopaedia

X-ray features are variable, and lipoid pneumonia may appear as consolidation, an irregular mass-like lesion, or a reticulonodular pattern.

StatPearls

Lipoid pneumonia is a rare form of lung disease due to aspiration or inhalation of exogenous or endogenous lipid-containing products. In the past, this disease has usually been an incidental postmortem finding associated with severe respiratory compromise. Currently, there are no specific evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of this lung disease.