A case of acute pneumonitis following talc pleurodesis: High-resolution CT findings

Abstract

Talc is one of the most effective agents for pleurodesis but it may induce serious pulmonary complication caused by pulmonary talc deposition. We describe a case of acute pneumonitis following talc pleurodesis in a 30-year-old woman who had malignant pleural effusion. Air-space consolidation and ground-glass attenuation developed in both lungs, predominantly in the ipsilateral lung, shortly after pleurodesis and were not satisfactorily explained by reexpansion pulmonary edema or pneumonia. She was started on treatment with corticosteroid. Her dyspnea rapidly improved and air-space consolidation resolved over a few months on follow-up radiographs. Copyright © 2006 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.