RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Bullous degeneration of the left lower lobe in a heroin addict
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1224
OP 1226
VO 3
IS 10
A1 Smeenk, FW
A1 Serlie, J
A1 van der Jagt, EJ
A1 Postmus, PE
YR 1990
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/3/10/1224.abstract
AB A 34 yr old heroin addict was referred because of chest pain caused by air-trapping in a bulla in the left lower lobe. There was a marked difference between the functional residual capacity measured by body-plethysmography and helium dilution. A slow wash-in and wash-out were demonstrated by ventilation scintigraphy with Xenon133. Bullous degeneration is a known complication of intravenous drug abuse. Usually these bullae are found in the upper lobes. Possible causative mechanisms are discussed.