Vaping FAQs

can a chest x ray be clear in vaping illness

by Natalia Brakus DDS Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Why is vaping important?

What changes the shape of the chest?

Can you vape a lot?

Is reading X-rays a job?

Can a radiologist make diagnostic interpretations?

Can you see changes in your lung?

Is vaping a smoking habit?

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Chest Xray-Lungs & Vaping | E-Cigarette Forum

Not to step on anyone's toes, or dispute the fact that vaping has got to be better than smoking, those chest films are misleading. Chest xrays do NOT show tar buldup, or damage due to smoking unless there is significant emphysema.

Vaping-associated lung disease | Radiology Reference Article ...

Vaping-associated lung disease, or EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury), consists of patterns of inhalational pulmonary injury induced by electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes, e-vaporizers, e-hookahs, vapes, vape pens). These products heat up a liquid containing nicotine (in which case the device is formally also called an electronic nicotine delivery ...

How long does it take for a radiologist to read a chest X-ray?

So you know the history and the exam and the radiologist doesn’t. It’s important to remember that a radiologist reads a chest X-ray in less than 20 seconds generally. They do pick up most of the abnormalities quite quickly. But you know the history and specifically what you might be looking for that they may not.

Which lobe is right up in the chest?

And so you’re really only catching the border of the right lower lobe down here on the standard PA. The left upper lobe is right up in here. This is where the lingula shadows against the heart and the left lower lobe against the diaphragm.

Can you see fissures on PA x-ray?

On the PA x-ray, it’s really hard to see the fissures unless there’s fluid in them. Remember on the right lung you have three lobes, you have your right upper, your right middle, right lower. So you have a minor fissure and a major fissure. And the major fissure is really obliquely in the chest, which I’ll show you on the next slide.

Do you need a CT scan for calcified nodules?

Something that seems like a calcified nodule, if it’s been there for 20 years, you don’t need to worry about it. You don’t need to call the pulmonologist to get a CT scan and potentially a biopsy. If it’s new in the last year or if you never noticed it before, then it does need further workup. So these are things that old films can really help you out with.

Does vaping cause lung injury?

The recent escalation of reported cases of acute lung injury from vaping underscores the need for interpretation skills when diagnosing toxic inhalation pneumonitis or other acute pulmonary conditions.

What does a chest X-ray show?

Your doctor will evaluate your history of e-cigarette use and other vaping devices, and may take a chest X-ray or CT scan to see if there are hazy spots on your lungs (called opacities) that indicate tissue damage.

How Is EVALI Diagnosed?

These include shortness of breath, fever and chills, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, rapid heartrate and chest pain. Your doctor will evaluate your history of e-cigarette use and other vaping devices, and may take a chest X-ray or CT scan to see if there are hazy spots on your lungs (called opacities) that indicate tissue damage.

What Is the Treatment for EVALI?

Treatment is based on expert recommendations and depends on the severity of the illness. Primary medication treatments include antibiotics and/or antivirals until infection is ruled out as well as corticosteroids to help fight inflammation in the lungs. Patients with more severe cases will need hospitalization and, because they may be unable to breathe on their own, could be placed on a ventilator. Even patients who have less severe symptoms may need supplemental oxygen.

What is the cause of e-cigarette evali?

Health officials point to vitamin E acetate (an additive in some THC-containing e-cigarettes) as the primary, but not the only, cause of EVALI.

What is the treatment for a pulmonary infection?

Primary medication treatments include antibiotics and/or antivirals until infection is ruled out as well as corticosteroids to help fight inflammation in the lungs. Patients with more severe cases will need hospitalization and, because they may be unable to breathe on their own, could be placed on a ventilator.

Is vitamin E acetate a vaping substance?

In addition to vitamin E acetate, there are many other substances and product sources in vaping materials that are being examined as possible causes. The CDC and lung health researchers around the country are continuing to investigate.

How to tell if you have vapi?

The one thing that appears to help with VAPI, according to multiple reports, is rounds of steroid treatment applied over several weeks.

How many deaths from vaping in the US?

There have been at least 12 confirmed deaths across the United States linked to vaping. The most common symptoms of VAPI—shortness ...

What are the symptoms of VAPI?

On Sept. 13, the federal Centers for Disease Control issued a national advisory letter regarding the VAPI outbreak. That guidance took note of these symptoms, which may present individually or in some combination in VAPI patients:

Why did Rennie use vape cartridges?

Rennie told WebMD that he’d been using medical cannabis vape cartridges for about ten years to help him sleep. In June 2019, he decided to start buying street-market cartridges, because they were far cheaper ($25) than carts sold in legal, state-licensed stores ($50). “’I was too trusting,” Rennie told WebMD.”.

Why did Fagundez start vaping?

A regular cannabis consumer, Fagundez started vaping about a year ago in order to cut down on the odor generated by smoking flower.

What is VAPI in medical terms?

Vaping-Associated Pulmonary Injury (VAPI) has become the official term that national public health authorities have given to clusters of sickened patients found across the US, beginning in Wisconsin this past spring.

What does hypoxia feel like?

Hypoxia shows up as feeling tired, nauseous, sick, and dizzy. Suddenly you can’t climb the stairs anymore, or walk the dog, or play catch. Patients are showing up at the hospital with blood oxygen levels so low (as low as 35%) that they should be dead.

Drifts Full Member

Hey guys, have any of you had a lung x-Ray after vaping for years? I’ve been vaping since 2015, still vape everyday on a sub-ohm tank and I feel great. Still workout at the gym, blood oxygen level is at 99% last few times I been to the doctor etc. I’m very curious to get a lung x-Ray just to make sure everything is ok out of curiosity.

Shawn Hoefer ECF Guru Verified Member ECF Veteran

I had my doc order one after about 4 years of vaping. Doc said they looked MUCH better than the films taken when I was smoking.

SupplyDaddy I'm considered a Mad Scientist in some circles! Verified Member ECF Veteran

Had several MRI's due to back issues, then meningitis about 5 years ago. They did scan the lungs and said my lungs were great.

jjcordone Super Member Verified Member ECF Veteran

If your an ex-smoker, most insurance companies will cover a low level MRI lung scan once a year as part of your physical.

smacuser Vapid Member Verified Member ECF Veteran

30 year pack a day smoker until 10 years ago. Had x-ray and CT within the last year, all clear .

Drifts Full Member

This is great news guys. When I first started vaping there was talk about not knowing the long term risks. Glad to see everyone is still going strong. Keep up with the responses.

UncleJunkle Vaping Master Verified Member ECF Veteran

The former owner of Zee Cigs claims to have been a heavy smoker prior to vaping and not long after switching to vaping got a chest xray that showed normal lungs (this was many years ago, now). But I'm not sure how trustworthy the guy is. He has (had?) a youtube video about it.

What is e-cigarette lung injury?

Eventually, researchers tied these cases to vaping. The illness is now called e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury(EVALI). Doctors and researchers are still working to learn more about this condition, including its exact causes and long-term effects.

Is vaping a good alternative to smoking?

Electronic cigaretteswere originally designed as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. But it turns out smokinge-cigarettes -- commonly known as vaping-- has its own risks.

Can evali cause breathing problems?

Someone with EVALI may have breathingand digestive problems, along with other symptoms, including:

What can be seen on a chest X-ray?

Rib or spine fractures or other problems with bone may be seen on a chest X-ray. Postoperative changes. Chest X-rays are useful for monitoring your recovery after you've had surgery in your chest, such as on your heart, lungs or esophagus.

Why do people get chest X-rays?

Some people have a series of chest X-rays done over time to track whether a health problem is getting better or worse.

What does chest xray show?

A chest X-ray helps detect problems with your heart and lungs. The chest X-ray on the left is normal. The image on the right shows a mass in the right lung. Chest X-rays produce images of your heart, lungs, blood vessels, airways, and the bones of your chest and spine. Chest X-rays can also reveal fluid in or around your lungs or air surrounding ...

What are the conditions that can be seen on chest x-rays?

They can also show chronic lung conditions, such as emphysema or cystic fibrosis, as well as complications related to these conditions. Heart-related lung problems. Chest X-rays can show changes or problems in your lungs that stem from heart problems. For instance, fluid in your lungs can be a result of congestive heart failure.

Why do doctors do chest xrays?

Why it's done. Chest X-rays are a common type of exam. A chest X-ray is often among the first procedures you'll have if your doctor suspects heart or lung disease. A chest X-ray can also be used to check how you are responding to treatment. A chest X-ray can reveal many things inside your body, including:

How to show heart and lungs on X-ray?

The X-ray technician may ask you to take a deep breath and hold it for several seconds. Holding your breath after inhaling helps your heart and lungs show up more clearly on the image.

What does it mean when you have a calcified nodule in your lungs?

Calcified nodules in your lungs are most often from an old, resolved infection. Fractures.

Why is vaping important?

It is only important to them so that you can be treated. The only person you harm by pretending to not do so if yourself. People who smoke and vape have generally no idea how obvious it is to everyone else. This is so true for smokers in particular.

What changes the shape of the chest?

Hyperinflation of the lungs, changes the shape of the chest. Fingernails can become domed.

Can you vape a lot?

It would be highly unlikely, even if you vaped a LOT.

Is reading X-rays a job?

Reading X-Rays for a living is not an easy job. But it is professional rewarding to help take care of another human being.

Can a radiologist make diagnostic interpretations?

By asking this question, you obviously have no idea what a Radiologist goes through to be able to make diagnostic interpretations that must hold up in a court of law.

Can you see changes in your lung?

Yes, the changes in your lung may be visible or they may not, depending on how long, how much and what you have been ingesting .

Is vaping a smoking habit?

Nope. Vaping is just like any other kind of non-smoking. NO TOXIC BIOMARKERS. Vaping is not smoking, so it’s just the same as any other non-smoking.

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Epidemiology

  • The incidence of lung illness among electronic cigarette users is unclear, but almost 3,000 hospitalized cases have been reported in the United States as of early 2020, with multiple deaths (67 had been confirmed in 29 of the states) 1. Most cases involved use of both nicotine and cannabinoid products 2. Most patients report last vaping in the week...
See more on radiopaedia.org

Clinical Presentation

  • Case series describe non-specific clinical features that include 3-7,19,20: 1. respiratory symptoms 1.1. shortness of breath 1.2. cough 1.3. chest pain 2. constitutional symptoms 2.1. subjective feverand chills 2.2. fatigue 3. gastrointestinal symptoms 3.1. nausea and vomiting 3.2. diarrhea 3.3. abdominal pain These symptoms occur days to weeks prior to hospitalization, which is usu…
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Pathology

  • Several pathologic patterns of lung injury have been reported in the setting of vaping 2: 1. lipoid pneumonia (exogenous) 4,7,13,14 2. diffuse alveolar damage 5,15​ 3. acute eosinophilic pneumonia 5,11,12 4. organizing pneumonia 10 5. diffuse alveolar hemorrhage 6 6. respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease 9​ 7. ​hypersensitivity pneumonitis 8. giant cell interstitial pn…
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Radiographic Features

  • The vast majority of patients have pulmonary opacities on chest radiograph 3,8,18. The most common finding is diffuse bilateral ground glass opacities 3,8,18, with a basilar predominance and sometimes subpleural or lobular sparing 5,20. Specific patterns with radiologic-pathologic correlation are described separately: 1. lipoid pneumonia 4,7,13,14 1.1. basilar predominant grou…
See more on radiopaedia.org

History and Etymology

  • Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have been available in the USA since 2007, however the first case report was not published until 2013 20.
See more on radiopaedia.org

See Also

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