J Korean Med Sci.  1998 Oct;13(5):545-547. 10.3346/jkms.1998.13.5.545.

Giant-cell interstitial pneumonia in a gas station worker

• Lee SM
• Moon CH
• Oh YB
• Kim HY
• Ahn Y
• Ko EJ
• Joo JE

• KMID: 645217
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.1998.13.5.545

Abstract

Giant-cell interstitial Pneumonia (GIP) is a very uncommon respiratory disease. The majority of cases of GIP are caused by exposure to cobalt, tungsten and other hard metals. In this report, we describe GIP in a patient who worked in gas station and dealt in propane gas vessels. He presented with clinical features of chronic interstitial lung disease and underwent an open lung biopsy that showed DIP-like reaction with large numbers of intra-alveolar macrophages and numerous large, multinucleated histiocytes which were admixed with the macrophages. Analysis of lung tissue for hard metals was done. Cobalt was the main component of detected hard metals. Corticosteroid therapy was started and he recovered fully.

MeSH Terms

Case Report
Giant Cells
Human
Lung Diseases, Interstitial/radiography
Lung Diseases, Interstitial/pathology
Lung Diseases, Interstitial/drug therapy
Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis*
Male
Middle Age
Pneumonia/radiography
Pneumonia/pathology
Pneumonia/drug therapy
Pneumonia/diagnosis*