Abstract
Objective: To characterize the temporal chest radiographic findings of fat embolism syndrome. Material and Method: Twenty-nine patients with clinically diagnosed fat embolism syndrome between 1988-1999 were retrospectively identified from the Trauma Registry of Haborview Medical Center, University of Washington. In twenty-two patients, complete medical records and serial chest radiographs were available. All images were reviewed by a dedicated thoracic radiologist. Results: Two of 22 patients had normal radiographs throughout hospitalization, while 20/22 developed abnormal chest radiographs. The radiographic findings were consistent with non-specific diffuse pulmonary edema in all abnormal cases. The time to appearance of evident radiographic lung injury was < 24 hours of initial trauma in 10/20 (50%), between 24-48 hours in 4/20 (20%), between 48-72 hours in 5/20 (25%), and 1 patient (1/20, 5%) developed an abnormal chest radiograph after 72 hours. Ten of 20 patients (50%) with abnormal radiographs had complete resolution of the edema pattern within 1 week of development of opacities, 3/20 (15%) cases showed complete radiographic resolution between 1- 2 weeks, 2/20(10%) cases showed complete radiographic resolution between 2-3 weeks, 1/20 (5%) showed complete radiographic resolution between 3-4 weeks, and 4/20 (20%) died without resolution of the radiographic finding. Conclusion: The chest radiographic appearance of fat embolism syndrome is non-specific. Normal radiographs can also be seen. Most patients presenting with a normal initial radiograph develop radiographic evident abnormalities within 72 hours of injury and most cases showed radiographic resolution within 2 weeks of hospitalization. Although chest imaging play a little role in the clinical management of fat embolism syndrome, understanding of temporal presentation and evolution of the otherwise non-specific pulmonary opacities may help to avoid unnecessary evaluation in selected patients.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1854-1860 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand |
| Volume | 88 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Chest radiograph
- Fat embolism syndrome
- Pulmonary edema
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Chest radiographic evolution in fat embolism syndrome. / Muangman, Nisa; Stern, Eric J.; Bulger, Eileen M.; Jurkovich, Gregory; Mann, Fred A.
In: Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, Vol. 88, No. 12, 01.12.2005, p. 1854-1860.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Chest radiographic evolution in fat embolism syndrome
AU - Muangman, Nisa
AU - Stern, Eric J.
AU - Bulger, Eileen M.
AU - Jurkovich, Gregory
AU - Mann, Fred A.
PY - 2005/12/1
Y1 - 2005/12/1
N2 - Objective: To characterize the temporal chest radiographic findings of fat embolism syndrome. Material and Method: Twenty-nine patients with clinically diagnosed fat embolism syndrome between 1988-1999 were retrospectively identified from the Trauma Registry of Haborview Medical Center, University of Washington. In twenty-two patients, complete medical records and serial chest radiographs were available. All images were reviewed by a dedicated thoracic radiologist. Results: Two of 22 patients had normal radiographs throughout hospitalization, while 20/22 developed abnormal chest radiographs. The radiographic findings were consistent with non-specific diffuse pulmonary edema in all abnormal cases. The time to appearance of evident radiographic lung injury was < 24 hours of initial trauma in 10/20 (50%), between 24-48 hours in 4/20 (20%), between 48-72 hours in 5/20 (25%), and 1 patient (1/20, 5%) developed an abnormal chest radiograph after 72 hours. Ten of 20 patients (50%) with abnormal radiographs had complete resolution of the edema pattern within 1 week of development of opacities, 3/20 (15%) cases showed complete radiographic resolution between 1- 2 weeks, 2/20(10%) cases showed complete radiographic resolution between 2-3 weeks, 1/20 (5%) showed complete radiographic resolution between 3-4 weeks, and 4/20 (20%) died without resolution of the radiographic finding. Conclusion: The chest radiographic appearance of fat embolism syndrome is non-specific. Normal radiographs can also be seen. Most patients presenting with a normal initial radiograph develop radiographic evident abnormalities within 72 hours of injury and most cases showed radiographic resolution within 2 weeks of hospitalization. Although chest imaging play a little role in the clinical management of fat embolism syndrome, understanding of temporal presentation and evolution of the otherwise non-specific pulmonary opacities may help to avoid unnecessary evaluation in selected patients.
AB - Objective: To characterize the temporal chest radiographic findings of fat embolism syndrome. Material and Method: Twenty-nine patients with clinically diagnosed fat embolism syndrome between 1988-1999 were retrospectively identified from the Trauma Registry of Haborview Medical Center, University of Washington. In twenty-two patients, complete medical records and serial chest radiographs were available. All images were reviewed by a dedicated thoracic radiologist. Results: Two of 22 patients had normal radiographs throughout hospitalization, while 20/22 developed abnormal chest radiographs. The radiographic findings were consistent with non-specific diffuse pulmonary edema in all abnormal cases. The time to appearance of evident radiographic lung injury was < 24 hours of initial trauma in 10/20 (50%), between 24-48 hours in 4/20 (20%), between 48-72 hours in 5/20 (25%), and 1 patient (1/20, 5%) developed an abnormal chest radiograph after 72 hours. Ten of 20 patients (50%) with abnormal radiographs had complete resolution of the edema pattern within 1 week of development of opacities, 3/20 (15%) cases showed complete radiographic resolution between 1- 2 weeks, 2/20(10%) cases showed complete radiographic resolution between 2-3 weeks, 1/20 (5%) showed complete radiographic resolution between 3-4 weeks, and 4/20 (20%) died without resolution of the radiographic finding. Conclusion: The chest radiographic appearance of fat embolism syndrome is non-specific. Normal radiographs can also be seen. Most patients presenting with a normal initial radiograph develop radiographic evident abnormalities within 72 hours of injury and most cases showed radiographic resolution within 2 weeks of hospitalization. Although chest imaging play a little role in the clinical management of fat embolism syndrome, understanding of temporal presentation and evolution of the otherwise non-specific pulmonary opacities may help to avoid unnecessary evaluation in selected patients.
KW - Chest radiograph
KW - Fat embolism syndrome
KW - Pulmonary edema
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33244457800&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33244457800&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 16518985
AN - SCOPUS:33244457800
VL - 88
SP - 1854
EP - 1860
JO - Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet
JF - Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet
SN - 0125-2208
IS - 12
ER -