Severe Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia Following Ingestion of Large Dose Squalene: Successful Treatment with Steroid.

Choi, Hyo Sun; Kwag, Hyon Joo; Chae, Seoung Wan; Lim, Si Young; Lim, Seong Yong

doi:2006.60.2.235

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 60(2); 2006 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2006;60(2):235-238.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2006.60.2.235 Published online February 1, 2006.

Severe Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia Following Ingestion of Large Dose Squalene: Successful Treatment with Steroid.

Hyo Sun Choi, Hyon Joo Kwag, Seoung Wan Chae, Si Young Lim, Seong Yong Lim

¹Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. mdlimsy@skku.edu
²Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
³Department of Pathology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) is an uncommon condition resulting from aspiration or inhalation of vegetable, animal or mineral oil. It results in foreign body type inflammatory reaction of the lung and can show various clinical presentations from asymptomatic incidental finding to severe pneumonia leading to acute respiratory failure. Although many cases have been reported, severe ELP requiring steroid or whole lung lavage for treatment is rare. We report a case of 51-year old man with esophageal cancer who developed severe ELP following ingestion of large dose shark oil (Squalene) and successfully treated with prednisolone.

Key Words: Lipoid pneumonia, Squalene, Steroid