The early chest radiographic changes of Pneumocystis pneumonia.
In a retrospective 3-year survey, 14 immunosuppressed patients from a renal unit were diagnosed as having Pneumocystis pneumonia. All 14 patients had a chest radiograph taken within 48 h of the onset of the acute illness. In only three out of the 14 cases did the radiograph show 'classical' bilateral perihilar infiltration: In six the film was normal and in five there were minimal non-specific changes only. We conclude that normal radiographic appearances are common in the early stages of Pneumocystis pneumonia and 'classical' radiological features are rarely seen.
D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies