Discussion
Diagnosis With Brief Discussion
- Diagnosis
- Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia
- Radiologic Findings
- Fig 1. PA scout image of chest CT shows ill-defined bilateral hazy ground-glass opacities (GGO) predominantly in the central lung fields.
Fig 2-5. CT images show scattered and confluent GGO in both lungs, predominantly involving perihilar or mid zones with some peripheral sparing.
Fig 6-9. Follow-up CT images taken 10 days later show aggravation of diffuse GGO in both lungs. GGO areas become more confluent and intensive.
- Brief Review
- Patients blood test result was positive for HIV. GMS staining of bronchial washing fluid revealed pneumocystis jirovecii organisms.
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) {1}, the most common opportunistic infection, caused by atypical yeast-like fungus in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with CD4 counts <200 cells/mm and in patients with severe immunosupression due to hematological malignancy or in bone marrow transplant recipients {2}. PCP is virtually never present in immunocompetent individuals rather than those above.
The most common symptoms include progressive dyspnea, and/or non-productive dry cough and a light fever {3}. The diagnosis can often be confirmed with bronchoalveolar lavage which has a sensitivity of 85-90%. Monoclonal antibodies for detecting Pneumocystis jiroveci are also available and have a sensitivity greater than 90%.
In chest radiography however up to 90% patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia shows abnormal findings, appearances are often non-specific. Between 10-15% of patients have normal chest radiographs and close to 30% have non-specific or inconclusive findings.
HRCT features include ground-glass pattern, predominantly involving perihilar or mid zones, and may show some peripheral sparing in a considerable number of patients (~40%) {2}. Also reticular opacities or septal thickening may be present. In one third of cases, pneumatoceles exists with varying shape, size, and wall thickness and there is a higher risk of pneumothorax due to its rupture. Lymphadenopathy is uncommon (10%) and pleural effusion is rare.
- Please refer to
Case 1220, Case 948, Case 823, Case 797, Case 727, -
- References
- 1.The Acronym PCP is Pneumocystis Pneumonia, Not Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia. (2012) American Journal of Roentgenology. 185 (6): 1653-4; author reply 1654. doi:10.2214/AJR.05.5158 - Pubmed
2.Kanne JP, Yandow DR, Meyer CA. Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia: High-Resolution CT Findings in Patients With and Without HIV Infection, American Journal of Roentgenology. 2012;198: W555-W561 Read More: http://www.ajronline.org/doi/full/10.2214/AJR.11.7329 doi10.2214/AJR.11.7329 - Pubmed citation
3.Vogel MN, Vatlach M, Weissgerber P, Goeppert B, Claussen CD, Hetzel J, et al. HRCT-features of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and their evolution before and after treatment in non-HIV immunocompromised patients. Eur J Radiol. 2012;81(6):1315
- Keywords
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