A Case of Lipoid Pneumonia with Hypercalcemia Caused by Squalelne Intake by Force

ABSTRACT

Lipoid pneumonia is a chronic, interstitial, proliferative inflammation resulting from aspiration of lipoid material and occurs principally in debilated infants. We experienced a case of lipoid pneumonia with hypercalcemia in a 15 month-old boy who showed irritability, poor weight gain, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, diarrhea and pale face after ingestion of Squalene (shark liver oil 20-30 cap/day) by force for 2 months. Calcium preparation was also given for 5 months.Lipoid pneumonia was suspected from history and simple chest X-ray. Chest CT showed mixed interstitial reticular density in portions of affective lung fields and the density of the lesion is slightly lower than that of muscle. Although diagnosis was confirmed by tracheal aspiration cytology, chest CT findings could be used as a non-invassive diagnostic tool in lipoid pneumonia.