Fire eater's pneumonia: radiographic and CT findings.

Abstract

Acute aspiration of petroleum by fire eaters can cause a distinct type of chemical pneumonitis known as fire eater's pneumonia that manifests on radiologic studies with unilateral or bilateral lung consolidations, well defined nodules, and pneumatoceles. We report three cases of fire eater's pneumonia that manifested with well-defined cavitary nodules (pneumatoceles) on radiographs and CT. One patient developed a bronchopleural fistula and spontaneous pyopneumothorax. CT is valuable for identifying and localizing complications to guide therapy.

• Authors: T Franquet, D Gómez-Santos, A Giménez, S Torrubia, J M Monill
• Journal: Journal of computer assisted tomography (J Comput Assist Tomogr) 2000 May-Jun Vol. 24 Issue 3 Pg. 448-50 ISSN: 0363-8715 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10864084 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Kerosene

Topics

• Adult
• Bronchial Fistula (etiology)
• Fires
• Humans
• Kerosene (poisoning)
• Male
• Occupational Diseases (chemically induced, complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Pleural Diseases (etiology)
• Pneumonia, Aspiration (chemically induced, complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Pneumothorax (etiology)
• Respiratory Tract Fistula (etiology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed