“Matching” Ventilation/Perfusion Images in Fat Embolization

Forty-eight hours after fracture of the tibia and fibula, a 27-year-old man developed the triad of findings noted in the fat embolism syndrome (neurologic changes, respiratory distress, and petechlae). An initially normal chest-x-ray, which progressed to one of bilateral fluffy diffuse infiltrates, aided in making the diagnosis. Ventilation/perfusion lung images were performed at the time of the radiographic changes and showed “matching” defects. Transcapillary passage of lipid breakdown products was considered to be the cause. While all parts of the lung showed reduced ventilation/perfusion, the upper half of the lung fields was affected more prominently, as opposed to emboli of venous origin, which most frequently involve the lung bases.