대한흉부영상의학회 Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology

Discussion

Diagnosis With Brief Discussion

Diagnosis

Varicella-Zoster pneumonia

Radiologic Findings

Brief Review

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox in children. However, infection of VZV in adult immunocomprised patients or pregnant women can cause serious complications including pneumonia. Reported frequency of pneumonia in VZV infection is one of every 400 adulthood infections.
Symptoms of VZV pneumonia may include fever, cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, tachypnea, and pleuritic chest pain. Characteristic skin rash can be an important clue for the diagnosis of VZV.
Chest CT findings of VZV pneumonia includes multiple small nodules (5–10 mm) reflecting hemorrhage and necrosis centered on airways. Ground-glass opacity halo and coalescence of nodules, an dmiliary micronodules can be observed. After antiviral treatement (acyclovir), CT findings resolve concurrently with healing of skin rash. Residual calcified nodules after treatment may occur.

References

1. Kim EA et al. Viral pneumonias in adults: Radiologic and pathologic findings. Radiographics 2002;22:S137-S149.
2. Koo HJ et al. Radiologic and CT features of viral pneumonia. Radiographics 2018;38:719-739.

Keywords