Pedro A. Daltro MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Selma Sias, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

R. Caetano, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

J. Comarella, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Emerson L. Gasparetto MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Edson Marchiori, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

This study aims to evaluate the follow-up imaging findings in children with lipoid pneumonia treated with serial bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).

Ten pediatric patients (six female and four males, mean age 1.6 years) with lipoid pneumonia were studied. All patients had history of mineral oil intake for a mean time of 26 days, and the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia was defined through BAL. Chest radiographs and high-resolution CT scans were obtained before and after serial BAL treatment with warmed saline solution. Two radiologists studied the images pre- and post-treatment and defined the findings by consensus.

All chest radiographs showed peri-hilar infiltrates and pulmonary opacities predominating on the superior (n=8) or inferior lobes (n=2). Regarding the high-resolution CT findings, all patients had areas of air-space consolidation, being seen air-bronchogram in two cases. “Crazy-paving” pattern was seen in one patient. After treatment, the chest radiographs demonstrated discrete infiltrates on the superior lobes and peri-hilar region in one case. The high-resolution CT scans showed improvement of the abnormalities in all cases. Three patients had normal exams and the remaining seven cases showed regression of the consolidations, being seen only discrete areas of ground-glass attenuation.

In conclusion, children with lipoid pneumonia show infiltrates and pulmonary opacities on chest radiographs, which usually improve after treatment with serial BAL treatment. The most common high-resolution CT scan abnormalities are air-space consolidations, which improve with treatment, progressing to ground-glass attenuation or normal examinations. Chest radiographs and high-resolution CT scans are useful for the follow-up of children with lipoid pneumonia treated with serial BAL.

To evaluate radiographs and high-resolution CT for the follow-up of patients with lipoid pneumonia

Daltro, P, Sias, S, Caetano, R, Comarella, J, Gasparetto, E, Marchiori, E, Lipoid Pneumonia in Children: Follow-up Evaluation with Chest Radiographs and High-Resolution CT Scan after Serial Bronchoalveolar Lavage Treatment.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5016381.html