Thoracic complications of illicit drug use: An organ system approach

Michael B. Gotway, Shelley R. Marder, Douglas K. Hanks, Jessica W.T. Leung, Samuel K. Dawn, Alisa D. Gean, Gautham P. Reddy, Philip A. Araoz, W. Richard Webb

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

76 Scopus citations

Abstract

Illicit drug use constitutes a major health problem and may be associated with various thoracic complications. These complications vary depending on the specific drug used and the route of administration. Commonly abused drugs that may play a role in causing thoracic disease include cocaine, opiates, and methamphetamine derivatives. Intravenously abused oral medications may contain filler agents that may be responsible for disease. Thoracic complications may be categorized as pulmonary, pleural, mediastinal, cardiovascular, and chest wall complications. Pulmonary complications of drug abuse include pneumonia, cardiogenic edema, acute lung injury, pulmonary hemorrhage, and aspiration pneumonia. Filler agents such as talc may result in panacinar emphysema or high-attenuation upper-lobe conglomerate masses. The primary pleural complication of illicit drug use is pneumothorax. Mediastinal and cardiovascular complications of illicit drug use include pneumomediastinum, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, aortic dissection, and injection-related pseudoaneurysms. Chest wall complications include diskitis and vertebral osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, necrotizing fasciitis, costochondritis, and septic arthritis. Categorization of thoracic complications of illicit drug use may facilitate understanding of these disorders and allow accurate diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)s119-s135
JournalRadiographics
Volume22
Issue numberSPEC. ISS
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Keywords

  • Drugs, abuse, 47.64, 50.64, 60.64
  • Drugs, side effects, 47.64, 50.64, 60.64
  • Lung, effects of drugs on, 60.21, 60.214, 60.64, 60.71, 60.751
  • Mediastinum, diseases, 67.735
  • Pericardium, abnormalities, 55.823
  • Pleura, diseases, 66.73

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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