BACKGROUND/AIMS: Paraquat-induced lung injury has been considered a progressive and irreversible disease. The purpose of this study was to report the long-term evolution of lung lesions in eight survivors with significant paraquat-induced lung injuries who could be followed-up for longer than 6 months. METHODS: We retrospectively examined high-resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function test of eight survivors with significant paraquat-induced lung injurys. RESULTS: High-resolution computed tomography revealed a predominant pattern of irregularly shaped consolidation with traction bronchiectasis at 1-2 months after paraquat poisoning, a mixed pattern of irregularly shaped consolidation and ground-glass opacity at 3-12 months, and a mixed pattern of consolidation, groundglass opacity, and honeycombing at 1-2 years. At 3-12 months after paraquat ingestion, the areas of consolidation had markedly decreased and the decreased lung volume had returned to normal. At 1-2 years after paraquat poisoning, the cystic changes had disappeared. At 2-3 years after paraquat poisoning, the decrease in forced vital capacity had greatly improved to the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of nearly normal pulmonary structure and function may occur over several years following paraquat poisoning. Pulmonary function (both forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec) evolved toward normal in the long-term survivors of paraquat poisoning with initial prominent lung injuries.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bronchiectasis/chemically induced ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Humans ; Lung/*drug effects/physiopathology/radiography ; Lung Injury/*chemically induced/physiopathology/radiography/therapy ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat/*toxicity ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced ; Recovery of Function ; Retrospective Studies ; *Survivors ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vital Capacity ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Bronchiectasis/chemically induced ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Humans ; Lung/*drug effects/physiopathology/radiography ; Lung Injury/*chemically induced/physiopathology/radiography/therapy ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Paraquat/*toxicity ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced ; Recovery of Function ; *Survivors ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vital Capacity