An Unusual and Fatal Cause of Miliary Nodules on Chest Radiography

• Main Authors: Anmol Cheema, Saira Chaughtai, Usman Mazahir, Manimala Roy, Mohammad A. Hossain
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-06-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: foreign body granulomatosis; talc; microcrystalline cellulose; intravenous drug use
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/7/7/164

Foreign body granulomatosis has many etiologies, including the injection of oral medications intravenously. The insoluble filler materials that are used in the medications can lodge in pulmonary arterioles and capillaries, which can trigger foreign body giant cell reaction, chronic inflammation, thrombosis, and fibrosis, resulting in pulmonary hypertension, progressive shortness of breath, and, potentially, fatal conditions. On imaging, this may present with multiple miliary mottling’s/nodules. The use of a bronchoscopy with biopsy can be an excellent way to establish a diagnosis in appropriate clinical settings. Here, we present a case of a 37-year-old old male found to have multiple miliary densities on imaging due to intravenous use of oral medication.