Imaging of Smoking and Vaping Related Diffuse Lung Injury.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Toxicology
• Radiology

Background:

• Lung injury arises from smoking tobacco and other substances.
• Inhaled substances cause diverse clinical and imaging lung patterns.
• Presentations range from acute to chronic, impacting patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the spectrum of lung injuries caused by smoking and inhaled substances.
• To correlate clinical presentations with specific imaging findings.
• To differentiate acute, subacute, and chronic smoking-related lung diseases.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical cases and imaging data of patients with smoking-related lung injury.
• Classification of lung injuries based on onset (acute, subacute, chronic).
• Correlation of specific inhaled substances with distinct pathological and radiological features.

Main Results:

• Acute lung injuries include eosinophilic pneumonia, vaping-associated lung injury, crack lung, and heroin inhalation.
• Subacute presentations feature shortness of breath with findings like pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, respiratory bronchiolitis, or desquamative interstitial pneumonia.
• Chronic dyspnea is associated with emphysema or smoking-related interstitial lung fibrosis.

Conclusions:

• Smoking and substance inhalation lead to a wide array of lung injuries.
• Clinical and imaging patterns vary significantly based on the inhaled agent and exposure duration.
• Recognizing these diverse manifestations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of lung damage.