Hydrocarbon Pneumonitis; Clinical and Radiological Variability

Abstract

Aspiration of hydrocarbons causes respiratory pathologies from simply to critical. Our aim is to attract attention to clinical and radiological variability in these cases. We presented a 22-year old young case exposed to diesel fuel by accidental aspiration. Three days after the aspiration, because of clinical deterioration, he was admitted to our emergency clinic. In the chest radiograph on admission showed infiltration in the right middle lobe. But a right lower lobe atelectasis emerged two days later. Bronchoscopy revealed inflamed and hyperemic mucosa and no bronchial obstruction. No secondary bacterial pneumonia was seen. The patient was treated with systemic steroids and antibiotics. After two weeks of treatment there was complete clinical improvement and significant radiologic regression. In the hydrocarbon aspiration cases clinical picture is variable. Radiological picture may develop with a delay. Unless there is a new evidence for an important complication, the steroid treatment should be followed.