Chemical pneumonitis after intravenous injection of isoparaffin: Characteristic clinico-radiologic findings.

A 23-year-old man presented with chest pain after intravenous (IV) injection of isoparaffin (C12-C13, 99%). This report describes the chest computed tomography (CT) pattern of chemical pneumonitis after IV isoparaffin injection. When injected IV, hydrocarbon can cause chemical pneumonitis, mimicking pulmonary infarction on chest CT. The CT pattern is attributable to diffusion of hydrocarbons through systemic veins into small pulmonary arteries and capillary beds, causing extensive local reactions and chemical pneumonitis or pleuritis.