Dr. Shamard Charles is a physician-journalist reporting on health policy, public health initiatives, diversity in medicine, and new developments in health care research and medical treatments.

Rochelle Collins, DO, is board-certified in family medicine. She is an assistant clinical professor of family medicine at Quinnipiac University and works in private practice in Hartford, Connecticut.

Lipoid pneumonia (LP) is a rare, non-infectious condition characterized by the presence of fat (lipids) in the alveoli of the lungs. Fat molecules in the lungs cause inflammation, filling the alveoli sacs with fluid and pus. 

This article discusses the types, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of LP.

There are two types of lipoid pneumonia:

Symptoms can vary significantly among individuals, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, life-threatening disease.

The symptoms that are most commonly observed in cases of lipoid pneumonia include:

The causes of lipoid pneumonia depend on the type of lipoid pneumonia.

Endogenous lipoid pneumonia is usually related to fat storage and fat metabolism diseases, such as:

Excessive fat storage that enters lung cells can cause inflammation and cell death, damaging lung tissue, sometimes irreparably. 

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is related to inhaling or ingesting substances that are oily or fatty in nature. Many people do not know the dangers of doing this until it is too late. The most common causes are:

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia has been caused after inhaling one of the following substances: 

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the best imaging modality for the diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia.

Although the radiologic findings of exogenous lipoid pneumonia on HRCT can be nonspecific, lipid-containing opacities on HRCT are diagnostic if there is a history of use or occupational exposure to lipid-containing materials.

If the cause of your lipoid pneumonia is endogenous, such as the result of lipid storage disease or pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, lung biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis because imaging is often non-specific and inconclusive.

There is currently no consensus on the best therapeutic option for the treatment of lipoid pneumonia, and treatment regimens—especially in those without symptoms—remain controversial. Treatment is primarily conservative and supportive.

In cases of exogenous lipoid pneumonia, it is imperative that you stop using the substance in question immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms, your healthcare provider may use lung lavage — lung washing to flush the fat build-up from the lungs — and prescribe immunoglobulins and systemic corticosteroids.

Lipoid pneumonia (LP) is an inflammatory condition that results from accumulation of lipids in the alveoli. The cause of LP can be either exogenous or endogenous based on the source of the fat in the lungs.

Although there is no standard of care for the treatment of lipoid pneumonia, the outlook for lipoid pneumonia is usually positive if treatment is initiated immediately and you have good lung health.

Still, if you are experiencing high fever, shortness of breath, chronic cough, or coughing up blood,—especially after inhaling or ingesting household products that contain oils or fat—you should seek immediate medical attention.

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Sravanthi N, Dragos M. Case report of lipoid pneumonia: an unusual etiology of a lung cavity. Int J Respir Pulm Med. 2018;5(1). doi:10.23937/2378-3516/1410076

Marchiori E, Zanetti G, Mano CM, Hochhegger B. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia. Clinical and radiological manifestations. Respiratory Medicine. 2011;105(5):659-666. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2010.12.001

Davidson K, Brancato A, Heetderks P, et al. Outbreak of electronic-cigarette–associated acute lipoid pneumonia — north carolina, july–august 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(36):784-786. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6836e1

Pielaszkiewicz-Wydra M, Homola-Piekarska B, Szcześniak E, Ciołek-Zdun M, Fall A. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia - a case report of a fire-eater. Pol J Radiol. 2012;77(4):60-64. doi:10.12659/pjr.883631

Nakashima S, Ishimatsu Y, Hara S, Kitaichi M, Kohno S. Exogenous lipoid pneumonia successfully treated with bronchoscopic segmental lavage therapy. Respiratory Care. 2015;60(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4187/respcare.03225

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