Pulmonary complications of illicit drug use: differential diagnosis based on CT findings.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this manuscript is to summarize an approach to the differential diagnosis of the pulmonary complications of illicit drug use based on the computed tomography findings. CONCLUSIONS The various pulmonary complications of illicit drug use result in 5 main patterns of parenchymal abnormality: nodules, ground-glass opacities, consolidation, air trapping, and emphysema. Other thoracic manifestations of illicit drug use include pulmonary arterial hypertension, pneumomediastinum, bacterial endocarditis, discitis, and septic arthritis.