ABSTRACT
TYPE: Case Report TOPIC: Occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases INTRODUCTION: We present a case of exogenous lipoid pneumonia caused by paraffin broncoaspiration due to pharyngoesophageal motor dysphagia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57 year old female consulted for diarrhea. She had a previous history of ischemic stroke related to hypercoagulability syndrome, causing oropharyngeal dysphagia due to pharyngo-esophageal motor incoordination. Owing to possible neurogenic dysfunction she also presented megadolichocolon with chronic diarrhea-constipation syndrome. Due to the epidemiological situation caused by SARS-COV2, a chest X-ray was performed showing increased density of the right middle lobe. The control X-ray exhibited a persistence of this alteration, therefore a thoracic tomographic study was performed (findings included in image), as well as a bronchoalveolar lavage. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was initially turbid white which, posterior to resting, revealed a superficial layer of fat, supporting the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia. The patient was subsequently interrogated. She associated the consumption of oily materials from herbalists and paraffin in order to palliate her constipation symptoms, which in relation to her esophageal motor-pharyngeal incoordination produced bronchoaspiration of the referred oily material. DISCUSSION: Oily substance ingestion was suspended. Subsequently she underwent a corticosteroid treatment and is currently under clinical control. CONCLUSIONS: The ground glass pattern is a finding that causes a wide differential diagnosis in the radiological study, therefore it is of great importance to take an adequate clinical history and to take into account the motor dysfunctions related to swallowing, due to the high consumption of herbalist products that contain oily materials that can cause exogenous lipoid pneumonia. DISCLOSURE: Nothing to declare. KEYWORD: Exogenous_Lipoid_Pneumonia