Abstract
Giant-cell interstitial Pneumonia (GIP) is a very uncommon respiratory disease.
The majority of cases of GIP are caused by exposure to cobalt, tungsten and
other hard metals. In this report, we describe GIP in a patient who worked in
gas station and dealt in propane gas vessels. He presented with clinical
features of chronic interstitial lung disease and underwent an open lung biopsy
that showed DIP-like reaction with large numbers of intra-alveolar macrophages
and numerous large, multinucleated histiocytes which were admixed with the
macrophages. Analysis of lung tissue for hard metals was done. Cobalt was the
main component of detected hard metals. Corticosteroid therapy was started and
he recovered fully.