Destroyed lung due to aspiration of phenolphthalein.

A 76-year-old female, presented with a recurrent cough and haemoptysis after an aspiration of a 'grain de Valls'. Chest radiography and computed tomography demonstrated an atelectasis of the medial segment of the right middle pulmonary lobe. Bronchoscopy was negative for any malignancy but the onco-PET-scan showed a pathologic hypermetabolic lesion in the right middle lobe. A lobectomy was performed and pathology revealed a 'destroyed lung' with images of foreign body reactions and microabscesses without any sign of malignancy. Postoperatively, clinical improvement with complete resolution of the symptoms was observed. With this case report we demonstrate the irritative and clastogenic characteristics of phenolphtalein, the main active ingredient of the 'grain de Valls'. This case also illustrates an example of a false positive PET-scan.