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Case Reports
. 2022 Jan-Dec:10:23247096211055334.
doi: 10.1177/23247096211055334.

A 66-Year-Old Man With Subacute Cough and Worsening Dyspnea Previously Diagnosed With COVID-19 Pneumonia

Michelle A Quan  1 , Joshua L Hoerger  1   2 , Elizabeth H Mullins  1 , Brooks T Kuhn  1   2
Affiliations
Case Reports

A 66-Year-Old Man With Subacute Cough and Worsening Dyspnea Previously Diagnosed With COVID-19 Pneumonia

Michelle A Quan et al. J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2022 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

A 66-year-old man presented with subacute cough and worsening dyspnea. Labs were notable for moderate peripheral eosinophilia, and computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated extensive crazy-paving throughout bilateral upper lung fields. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) revealed macrophages with lipid-filled vacuoles and negative periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. Further history obtained from the patient and family was notable for daily application of commercially available vapor rub to nares and intentional deep inhalation of nebulized fluids containing scented oils. The patient was diagnosed with exogenous lipoid pneumonia through an unusual route of lipid administration.

Keywords: COVID-19; lipoid pneumonia; pulmonary critical care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
CT chest findings of crazy-paving pattern throughout all lung fields. Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Lipid-laden alveolar macrophages.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Positive Oil Red O staining.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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