Neumonía lipoidea tras aspiración accidental de vaselina / Lipoid pneumonia after accidental aspiration of vaseline

La neumonía lipoidea es una patología pulmonar poco conocida que resulta de la acumulación de lípidos de origen endógenos o exógenos a nivel alveolar pulmonar. Suele ser subdiagnosticada dada que la presentación clínica es inespecífica, por lo que suele confundirse con otras patologías broncopulmonares, muchas veces no llegándose al diagnóstico preciso de esta. Dentro de los datos anamnesticos el antecedente, ya sea de uso reciente o de larga data, de la ingesta y/o inhalación accidental o voluntaria de alguna sustancia que contenga algún componente lipídico en su base es primordial. Pacientes de edades extremas suelen ser los más afectados y en quienes debemos tener la sospecha diagnóstica. Su diagnóstico es complejo requiriendo historia clínica, imágenes que apoyen un compromiso pulmonar (de preferencia tomografía computada) e idealmente la detección intraalveolar de lípidos y macrófagos cargados de éstos en el lavado broncopulmonar. Actualmente, no existe consenso sobre el manejo específico de esta patología. Lo importante es identificar la causa y descontinuar su uso. En neumonía lipoidea de causa exógena se recomienda manejo de soporte según sea la presentación clínica del paciente.

Lipoid pneumonia (LN) is an unknown lung disease due to lipid accumulation, of endogenous or exogenous origin, at the pulmonary alveolar level. Often it is underdiagnosed because of its nonespecific presentation whose differential diagnosis are other bronchopulmonary diseases. Anamnestic data, either recent or long-standing use of the intake and / or accidental or deliberate inhalationof any substance containing a lipid component as its base is relevant information. Extreme age groups are the most affected, and in whom wemust suspect LN diagnosis. The diagnosis of LN is complex and requires a complete medical history, images that support lung involvement (preferably computed tomography), and ideally intraalveolar detection of lipid-ladenmacrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage. Currently, there is no consensus on the specific management of this disease. It is important to identify the cause and discontinue its exposure. Whatever the varity of the clinical presentation, support magement is recommended to treat LN.

Lipoid pneumonia: An uncommon entity.

Lipoid pneumonia is a rare form of pneumonia caused by inhalation or aspiration of fat-containing substances like petroleum jelly, mineral oils, certain laxatives, etc. It usually presents as an insidious onset, chronic respiratory illness simulating interstitial lung diseases. Rarely, it may present as an acute respiratory illness, especially when the exposure to fatty substance(s) is massive. Radiological findings are diverse and can mimic many other diseases including carcinoma, acute or chronic pneumonia, ARDS, or a localized granuloma. Pathologically it is a chronic foreign body reaction characterized by lipid-laden macrophages. Diagnosis of this disease is often missed as it is usually not considered in the differential diagnoses of community-acquired pneumonia; it requires a high degree of suspicion. In suspected cases, diagnosis may be confirmed by demonstrating the presence of lipid-laden macrophages in sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, or fine needle aspiration cytology/biopsy from the lung lesion. Treatment of this illness is poorly defined and constitutes supportive therapy, repeated bronchoalveolar lavage, and corticosteroids.

Evolução da pneumonia lipoide exógena em crianças: aspectos clínicos e radiológicos e o papel da lavagem broncoalveolar / Evolution of exogenous lipoid pneumonia in children: clinical aspects, radiological aspects and the role of bronchoalveolar lavage

OBJETIVO: Descrever os aspectos da evolução da pneumonia lipoide em crianças, com base em aspectos clínicos, radiológicos e de achados no lavado broncoalveolar, enfatizando a importância diagnóstica e terapêutica da lavagem broncoalveolar. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídas 28 crianças, com idade média de 20 meses (1-108 meses) e diagnóstico de pneumonia crônica refratária a antimicrobianos e/ou TB. A maioria apresentava um fator de risco para aspiração, e todas apresentavam história de ingestão de óleo mineral para o tratamento de constipação intestinal (23/28) ou de ascaridíase complicada (5/28). A avaliação clínica e tomográfica e análises do lavado broncoalveolar foram realizadas no início do tratamento e em até 24 meses. RESULTADOS: Os sintomas mais frequentes foram taquipneia e tosse. As principais alterações radiológicas foram consolidações (23/28), infiltrado peri-hilar (13/28) e hiperinsuflação (11/28). A TC de tórax mostrou consolidações com broncograma aéreo (24/28), diminuição de atenuação nas áreas de consolidação (16/28), opacidade em vidro fosco (3/28) e padrão em mosaico (1/28). O estudo do lavado broncoalveolar apresentava macrófagos espumosos corados por Sudan, confirmando o diagnóstico da pneumonia lipoide. Após tratamento com múltiplas lavagens broncoalveolares (média = 9,6), 20 crianças tornaram-se assintomáticas, havendo normalização tomográfica em 18. CONCLUSÕES: O diagnóstico de pneumonia lipoide deve ser considerado na pneumonia crônica ou TB refratárias ao tratamento, especialmente se houver história de ingestão de óleo mineral. A broncoscopia com múltiplas lavagens broncoalveolares mostrou-se eficiente para a depuração do óleo aspirado do parênquima pulmonar e a prevenção da fibrose, contribuindo para a redução da morbidade dessa doença, que ainda é pouco diagnosticada.

OBJECTIVE: To present aspects of the evolution of lipoid pneumonia in children, based on clinical, radiological and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid findings, emphasizing the importance of bronchoalveolar lavage for the diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: We included 28 children, with a mean age of 20 months (range, 1-108 months), diagnosed with chronic pneumonia refractory to antimicrobial therapy, with TB or with a combination of the two. Most of the children had at least one risk factor for aspiration, and all of them had a history of mineral oil ingestion for intestinal constipation (23/28) or complicated ascaridiasis (5/28). Clinical evaluations, tomographic evaluations and analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were carried out at the beginning of treatment and throughout a follow-up period of 24 months. RESULTS: Tachypnea and cough were the most common symptoms. The most common radiological alterations were areas of consolidation (23/28), perihilar infiltrates (13/28) and hyperinflation (11/28). Chest CT scans showed areas of consolidation with air bronchogram (24/28), decreased attenuation in the areas of consolidation (16/28), ground-glass opacities (3/28) and crazy-paving pattern (1/28). In the analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, Sudan staining revealed foamy macrophages, confirming the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia. After treatment with multiple bronchoalveolar lavages (mean = 9.6), 20 children became asymptomatic, 18 of those presenting normal tomographic images. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia should be considered in patients with chronic refractory pneumonia or TB, especially if there is a history of mineral oil ingestion. Bronchoscopy with multiple bronchoalveolar lavages was an efficient treatment for the clearance of mineral oil from the lung parenchyma and the prevention of fibrosis. This strategy contributed to reducing the morbidity of lipoid pneumonia, which remains a rare diagnosis.

Pneumonia lipóide exógena: importância da história clínica no diagnóstico / Exogenous lipoid pneumonia: importance of clinical history to the diagnosis

A pneumonia lipóide é uma doença rara, resultante da microaspiração de formulações lipídicas. Para seu diagnóstico, o grau de suspeição clínica deve ser elevado. Relata-se o caso de uma mulher com passado de câncer de mama, apresentando dispnéia e tosse progressivas e infiltrado pulmonar bilateral na radiografia. A suspeita de linfangite carcinomatosa com indicação de quimioterapia foi questionada por achados não usuais na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução e história de ingestão crônica de laxantes contendo óleo mineral. A biópsia pulmonar confirmou pneumonia lipóide, que deve ser considerada em pacientes com pneumopatia difusa e exposição a potenciais agentes causadores.

Lipoid pneumonia is a rare disease resulting from the micro-aspiration of lipid formulations. Making a diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. Herein, we report the case of a female patient with a history of breast cancer, presenting progressive dyspnea and cough, together with radiological findings of bilateral pulmonary infiltrate. The working diagnosis of lymphangitic carcinomatosis, for which chemotherapy would be indicated, was called into question based on the high-resolution computed tomography findings and on the fact that the patient had a history of chronic ingestion of laxatives containing mineral oil. A lung biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia, which should always be considered in patients with diffuse lung disease having been exposed to potential causative agents.

Insuficiencia respiratoria aguda por neumonia lipoidea / Acute respiratory failure due to lipoid pneumonia

Se presenta un paciente de sexo masculino e3 63 años de edad que ingresó por un síndrome febril, tos, expectoración e insuficiencia respiratoria severa. El lavado broncoalveolar reveló una baciloscopia positiva por lo que indicó un tratamiento especifico con cuatro drogas antituberculosas. Ante la ausencia de mejoría el paciente requirió asistencia respiratoria mecánica. Una tomografía computada de tórax mostró signos compatibles con neomonía lipoidea tales como el compromiso de zonas declives del pulmón, hipodensidad de las mismas y el signo del angiograma. Un nuevo interrogatorio familiar constató ingesta crónica de vaselina por constipación. Se decidió tratamiento con altas dosis de esteroides y lavado pulmonar total, que permitió el retiro de la asistencia respiratoria mecánica. Se comenta la asociación de esta patología con infecciones por micobacterias atípicas.