August 2025 Medical Image of the Month: Crazy Paving in a Case of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Figure 1. Axial reconstructions from a non-contrast chest CT at the level of the mid-lungs demonstrating patchy bilateral ground glass opacities which are superimposed upon underlying smooth septal line thickening. Findings are consistent with a “crazy paving” pattern of mixed interstitial and airspace disease. “Crazy paving” has a striking appearance on imaging, but is a relatively nonspecific finding on CT. To view Figure 1 in a separate, enlarged window click here.

Figure 2. Low-power H&E stain of pulmonary cryobiopsy specimen demonstrating chronic bronchitis with patchy airway-centered interstitial fibrosis with scattered non-necrotizing submucosal and interstitial granulomas with giant cells and scattered eosinophils (arrows). Findings could fit with EGPA but are considered nonspecific based on pathological findings alone. To view Figure 2 in a separate, enlarged window click here.

A 73-year-old woman with a history of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction presented to the hospital with acute pancreatitis and developed acute (on-chronic) hypoxic respiratory failure during treatment. Her previous EGPA complications included interstitial lung disease (ILD) as well as GI, skin, and cardiac involvement. She was being treated with rituximab and mepolizumab at the time of admission. However, this treatment had not improved her skin rashes, late-onset asthma, or arthralgias.

At admission, the patient was on a baseline of 3L oxygen, which worsened to 7-12L upon beginning IV fluids. The patients' labs were pertinent for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) 9378 pg/ml (normal <100pg/ml, increased from _~2000 2-months prior), lipase 702 U/L (normal , 0-160) and an absolute eosinophil count of 390cells/µL  (normal 0-500). The transthoracic echocardiogram results were unchanged from four months prior, and diuresis failed to improve oxygen needs, raising the suspicion for an infectious/inflammatory etiology. Chest CT (Figure 1) showed patchy bilateral ground glass superimposed upon smooth septal line thickening, a “crazy paving” pattern of pulmonary involvement concerning for chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) vs organizing pneumonia vs EGPA flare. Bronchoscopy for BAL was deferred due to the patient’s condition. Infectious workup returned negative. A lung biopsy (Figure 2) showed interstitial fibrosis, granulomas with giant cells, and scattered eosinophils.

A rheumatology consult recommended a steroid trial, under the impression that this was a vasculitic/inflammatory condition. Although the patient’s Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) studies returned negative, she improved with oral prednisone 60 mg. This treatment response, along with imaging and pathologic studies suggests the most likely etiology to be an EGPA flare.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), previously called Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a hypereosinophilic vasculitic disorder that presents with allergic manifestations such as asthma/obstructive lung disease, rhinitis, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Additionally, clinical manifestations commonly involve the heart, lungs, sinuses, skin, and peripheral nerves; however, EGPA can involve almost any organ system (1,2). Unfortunately, EGPA can be clinically difficult to diagnose and differentiate from similar syndromes (3,4). Without proof of vasculitides in biopsy, most classification criteria struggle to differentiate EGPA from other eosinophilic disorders, and vasculitides may not develop until 8-10 years after initial allergic presentation. If biopsies are negative for vasculitis, a presumptive diagnosis can still be made based on peripheral eosinophilia and clinical findings after excluding alternative diagnosed (1).

On imaging, pulmonary manifestations of EGPA can be difficult to differentiate from other eosinophilic disorders, such as chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP); however, there can be some differences. Although both EGPA and CEP commonly have bronchial wall thickening and bronchiectasis on HRCT, EGPA is more likely to have migratory lobular consolidations versus the homogenous peripheral airspace consolidations typical of CEP (3). This distinction can be important to make, as although first line agents for both conditions are glucocorticoids, the therapeutic strategies to treat end organ injury differ between CEP and EGPA (4). “Crazy Paving”, as was seen in this case, can be a very nonspecific finding on CT, associated with a variety of potential underlying disease processes (5,6). Early identification of EGPA from severe asthma, CEP, or other hypereosinophilic syndromes help guide effective treatment.

Jacob C. Wengler MS2 ¹ and Clint Jokerst, MD ² 

¹Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine,

²Department of Radiology,

Mayo Clinic Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona USA

References

1. Khoury P. Clinical features and diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) - UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-features-and-diagnosis-of-eosinophilic-granulomatosis-with-polyangiitis-egpa Updated 2025. Accessed Jul 18, 2025.
2. Khoury P. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: Treatment and prognosis - UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/eosinophilic-granulomatosis-with-polyangiitis-treatment-and-prognosis Updated 2025. Accessed Jul 18, 2025.
3. Jeong YJ, Kim KI, Seo IJ, Lee CH, Lee KN, Kim KN, Kim JS, Kwon WJ. Eosinophilic lung diseases: a clinical, radiologic, and pathologic overview. Radiographics. 2007 May-Jun;27(3):617-37; discussion 637-9. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. Roufosse F. Hypereosinophilic syndromes: Clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, and diagnosis - UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hypereosinophilic-syndromes-clinical-manifestations-diagnosis-and-classification Updated 2022. Accessed Jul 18, 2025.
5. Lin X, Lin Y, Lai Z, Wei S, Qiu M, Li J, Liu Q, Chung KF, Zeng Q, Zhang Q. Retrospective comparison of high-resolution computed tomography of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis with severe asthma. Ann Transl Med. 2021 Jun;9(12):983. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. Rossi SE, Erasmus JJ, Volpacchio M, Franquet T, Castiglioni T, McAdams HP. "Crazy-paving" pattern at thin-section CT of the lungs: radiologic-pathologic overview. Radiographics. 2003 Nov-Dec;23(6):1509-19. [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Cite as: Wengler JC, Jokerst C. August 2025 Medical Image of the Month: Crazy Paving in a Case of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care Sleep. 2025;31(2):17-19. doi: https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpccs024-25. PDF

July 2025 Medical Image of the Month: A Case of Severe Hiatal Hernia Presenting as Atypical Chest Pain

Figure 1. Portable AP chest x-ray demonstrates a heart size at the upper limits of normal with left pericardiac pulmonary opacity and opacity in the left retrocardiac region, likely related to a large hiatal hernia. To view Figure 1 in a separate, enlarged window click here. 

 

Figure 2. Coronal (A,B) and axial (C) reconstructions from a CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis with IV contrast performed at time of admission demonstrates a large hiatal hernia with an intrathoracic debris-filled stomach (*) and a small diaphragmatic hernia neck (arrows).  Also note areas of myocardial thinning and decreased enhancement in the LV apex (arrowheads) consistent with the patient’s history of prior myocardial infarction. To view Figure 2 in a separate, enlarged window click here. 

A 73-year-old woman with a past medical history including coronary artery disease (CAD), prior myocardial infarction (MI), cardiomyopathy, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on CPAP, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),and a history of pulmonary embolism on apixaban presented to the emergency department with six hours of chest pain. She described the pain as pressure-like, radiating from beneath the left breast to the left axilla and back. She also reported associated nausea without vomiting and poor oral intake but maintained normal bowel movements. She denied fever, chills, dyspnea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain. The patient recalled a similar episode during her MI ten years prior, prompting her to seek medical care.

Vital signs were stable. Cardiac workup included serial troponins, both of which were negative (at 8 and 7 respectively), and an electrocardiogram (EKG) showing normal sinus rhythm without ST-T wave abnormalities. Chest x-ray (Figure 1) demonstrated a retrocardiac opacity suggestive of a hiatal hernia. Medical management included Maalox 30 mL, famotidine 20 mg, ondansetron 4 mg, metoclopramide 10 mg, IV acetaminophen 1 g, and IV morphine 4 mg. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast (Figure 2) revealed a large hiatal hernia containing the majority of the stomach and a small diaphragmatic hernia, raising concern for partial gastric obstruction. There was also mild gastric wall edema and several fluid-filled loops of small bowel with mild thickening, suggestive of possible enteritis. The patient was made NPO, and a nasogastric tube was inserted to low intermittent suction. General surgery was consulted, and cardiology assessed her to be at intermediate risk for surgery. On hospital day six, she underwent a successful robotic-assisted laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair with gastropexy.

Hiatal hernias are classified into four types. Type IV is the rarest and most complex, characterized by herniation of the stomach and additional abdominal organs such as the colon, small bowel, into the thoracic cavity through a widened diaphragmatic hiatus (1). This type is more prevalent in older adults due to progressive weakening of the phrenoesophageal membrane and chronic intra-abdominal pressure (2). Unlike type I sliding hernias, type IV hernias frequently present with obstructive symptoms, such as chest pain, nausea, and vomiting, and carry a high risk for complications like volvulus or strangulation. Minimally invasive approaches, including laparoscopic or robotic-assisted hernia reduction, crural closure, and gastropexy or fundoplication, are associated with favorable outcomes (3).

Varshita Goduguchinta DO, Raahi Patel DO, Ahmed Al-Mubaid MD, Mohammed Hammad MD

Department of Internal Medicine - Franciscan Health, Olympia Fields, IL

References

1. Kahrilas PJ, Kim HC, Pandolfino JE. Approaches to the diagnosis and grading of hiatal hernia. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2008;22(4):601-16. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. Stylopoulos N, Rattner DW. The history of hiatal hernia surgery: from Bowditch to laparoscopy. Ann Surg. 2005 Jan;241(1):185-93. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. Mertens AC, Tolboom RC, Zavrtanik H, Draaisma WA, Broeders IAMJ. Morbidity and mortality in complex robot-assisted hiatal hernia surgery: 7-year experience in a high-volume center. Surg Endosc. 2019 Jul;33(7):2152-2161. [CrossRef} [PubMed]

Cite as: Goduguchinta V, Patel R, Al-Mubaid A, Hammad M. July 2025 Medical Image of the Month: A Case of Severe Hiatal Hernia Presenting as Atypical Chest Pain. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care Sleep. 2025;31(1):12-13. doi: https://doi.org/10.13175/swjpccs015-25 PDF