The chest radiograph in legionnaires' disease.
The chest radiographs of 24 patients with documented Legionnaires' disease were evaluated. Twenty-two of the 24 patients had positive findings for the disease initially. There was unilateral involvement in 68% and the most common lung shadows were poorly marginated round opacities (46%), diffuse patchy (25%) and peripheral opacities (21%). At peak, 70% of patients had a lobar shadow. Pleural effusions were present in 39% of cases but could be explained by underlying congestive heart failure or renal failure in 7 of the 9. Although the findings are not specific, the radiologist should consider this diagnosis in a patient with compatible clinical history, a pneumonia of obscure etiology, and these radiographic manifestations.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*