Radiology Case Reports (Nov 2021)

Crazy vaping and crazy-paving, a case of E-Cigarette/Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) with chest CT showing crazy-paving pattern

  • Sherif Roman, MD,
  • Christopher Millet, DO,
  • Shady Geris, DO,
  • Rajapriya Manickam, MD,
  • Ashesha Mechineni, MD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 11
pp. 3208 – 3212

Abstract

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E-cigarettes are devices that generate an aerosol by heating a fluid containing multiple chemicals, such as nicotine, additives, and flavorings. They were developed to aid in smoking cessation and were promoted as socially acceptable, healthier, cheaper than conventional cigarettes. Multiple lung disorders related to e-cigarette use are reported, and they range from mild cases of pneumonitis to life-threatening lung disorders that may require intubation and mechanical ventilation. Most of the complications are due to the generation of various unknown and potentially harmful chemicals within the aerosol generated in the e-cigarette. These disorders are known collectively as e-cigarette/Vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI). E-cigarettes are marketed as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes, with the highest rates of use are noted in young smokers. Given the significant prevalence of e-cigarettes use and their pulmonary complications, EVALI should be considered a potential etiology in the broad differential diagnosis of patients with pulmonary disease and a history of vaping. Herein, we present a case of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia with a chest C.T. showing a crazy-paving pattern in a patient with a history of vaping.

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