Pulmonary complications in AIDS: the radiographic manifestations.
The AIDS epidemic continues to spread in Georgia. Almost every medical specialty is affected in some manner by the increased number of patients being diagnosed and treated with AIDS or the AIDS-related complex. Radiology has a pivotal role in documenting various opportunistic complications so that further testing and therapy may be instituted. Because of the large number of AIDS patients that develop thoracic disease, we have reviewed many of the potential pulmonary complications and their radiographic findings. Certain patterns of disease may suggest etiologies, though admittedly the chest radiograph is nonspecific. Diagnosis must be confirmed with sputum culture, bronchial lavage, and biopsy or open lung biopsy. There are key features that should be kept in mind. P. carinii, the most common pathogen, and several other opportunistic agents usually present with a fine bilateral interstitial or ground glass appearance. The presence of mediastinal adenopathy and/or pleural effusion suggests an etiology other than PCP. These findings are indicative of mycobacterial infection, KS, or lymphoma. PCP can present as a focal pulmonary consolidation, but this is unusual, and bacterial pneumonia must be considered. Finally, a small percentage of persons will present with a normal chest x-ray despite the presence of pulmonary infection or neoplasm. In those cases gallium lung scanning can help identify the affected individuals.
Cooper
N B
NB
Kenny
W
W
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography