Imaging in Vaping-associated Lung Injury: Beyond the Haze
George Koshy Vilanilam1, Rangarajan Purushothaman, Naveen Prasath Baskaran
1Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AK (GKV, RP); Department of Internal Medicine, John H Stroger Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL (NPB, IV, SR); CHI St. Vincent's Infirmary, Little Rock, AK (BB, LS).
Abstract:
E-cigarette or vaping, product associated lung injury is a rampant public health issue with a total of 2807 reported hospitalized patients in the United States as of February 18, 2020. Limited data, non-specific symptoms, non-responsiveness to antibiotics, and the lack of a specific biomarker, make it a diagnosis of exclusion. Overlap of clinical and imaging findings with other ongoing respiratory illness (MERS, SARS and COVID-19) poses a challenge in accurate diagnosis. We compiled 3 cases of patients hospitalized with confirmed vaping-associated lung injury and analyzed their imaging patterns, which revealed bilateral consolidation, ground-glass opacities and pleural effusions. We also reviewed the available literature on pathophysiology, imaging findings of EVALI and other respiratory illness.
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