Diagnosis of Lipoid Pneumonia by Examination of Sputum

Abstract

The systematic examination of sputum of 20 patients whose history, physical or roentgeno-graphic findings were suggestive of lipoid pneumonia, revealed evidence of this condition in 19 cases. The diagnosis by sputum examination was made by the finding of lipophages or of abundant free lipoid material treated with Wright''s stain and Sudan IV. In addition the sputum of 2 patients and of a controlled group of 45 patients revealed similar findings. Aspirated material from the lung from 20 of these patients also gave evidence of lipoid pneumonia. The examination of the sputum is a simple method and helpful in establishing the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia.