Pneumology - Case Reports Open access

E-cigarette, or vaping, product use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI): new scenarios for physicians and radiologists

Authors

Published
3 December 2021
Section
Pneumology - Case Reports
DOI
10.4081/monaldi.2021.1962

Abstract

A 59-year-old female ex-smoker with 40 pack year smoking history and a 5-year current e-cigarette (EC) use history, presented with progressive dyspnea on exertion and daily cough for 2 months. A CT scan showed a consolidation area with air bronchogram in the middle lobe and non-calcific bilateral nodules, which could be attributed to community-acquired pneumonia. The patient was treated with empiric antibiotics and systemic steroids for 10 days. Infectious, neoplastic and autoimmune pathologies were excluded, whereas a broncho-alveolar lavage revealed an accumulation of lipids in the cytoplasm of the alveolar macrophages. Despite the recommendation of vaping cessation, the patient continued to use EC. A new CT exam, carried out after 18 months, showed reversed halo sign (RHS), patchy ground-glass opacity (GGO), pleuro-parenchymal bands, and indeed perilobular pattern, suggestive of organizing pneumonia (OP). The final diagnosis was E-cigarette, or vaping, product use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI)- related OP.

Keywords

References

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