Exogenous lipoid pneumonia due to silent aspiration following surgery and radiotherapy for cancer of the tongue

Abstract

A man with a history of cancer of the base of the tongue presenting with hemoptysis, recurrent pneumonia and crazy-paving patterns on CT was ultimately diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia, subsequently found to be associated with use of fish oil capsules and possible Parkinson's disease. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma as differential diagnoses were considered and dismissed. Risk of aspiration and lipoid pneumonia should be considered in patients with similar radiological findings and history.

Keywords

• Lipoid pneumonia
• ELP, exogenous lipoid pneumonia
• PD, Parkinson's disease
• Crazy paving
• HNC, Head and neck cancer
• Aspiration pneumonia