Journal of Southern Medical University ›› 2005, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (06): 742-744.

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Spiral CT findings of pulmonary infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin

CHEN Zhong, LIAN Xu-hui, YE Wen-qin, WEN Kang-yan, CHEN Jing-yuan, RONG Xiao-bing, WANG Xiao-bo   

  1. 江门市新会区人民医院影像中心, 广东, 江门, 529100
  • Online:2005-06-20 Published:2005-06-20

Abstract: Objective To investigate spiral CT findings of pulmonary infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin. Methods The clinical data and spiral CT findings of 21 patients with pulmonary infection due to intravenous injection of heroin were analyzed retrospectively. Results Pulmonary lesions were detected in all these cases in the initial examination by spiral CT plain scan, including pneumatocele in 13 (61.9%), pulmonary cavity in 13 (61.9%), pulmonary consolidation in 15 (71.4%), and plural lesions in 8 cases (38.1%) of which 7 (33.3%) had plural effusion and 1 (0.48%) had encapsulated hydropneumothorax. Three cases had only one of the lesions and 18 had at least 2 of them. The CT images in each case were compared with X-ray film, and the latter displayed abnormalities in 20 cases (95.2%). X-ray failed to detect the lesions in 1 case (4.8%), in which pneumatocele was found in CT images. Conclusion The pulmonary lesions of pulmonary pneumato-cele, cavity, consolidation, and plural lesions are specific CT manifestations of hematogenous pulmonary suppurative infection induced by intravenous injection of heroin.

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