Embolization of hydrophilic catheter coating to the lungs: report of a case mimicking granulomatous vasculitis

Abstract

Hydrophilic coatings are used on intravascular devices to facilitate ease of manipulation and to minimize complications such as thrombosis during a procedure and vasospasm after a procedure. We report a case of embolization of hydrophilic coating of a central venous catheter to the lung that resulted in cavitary lung nodules in a 34-year-old woman. The microscopic features of this unusual complication warrant emphasis so that pathologists will not overlook the embolic foreign material and make a faulty diagnosis of noniatrogenic granulomatous vasculitis.