CT manifestations of respiratory syncytial virus infection in lung transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to evaluate CT findings during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in lung transplant recipients and to identify sequelae.


METHODS
Thirty-nine CT scans prior to, during, and following acute infection in 10 lung transplant recipients were reviewed. Abnormalities that were new from baseline observations and occurred within 4 weeks of diagnosis were defined as acute. Chronic findings were defined as those present >4 weeks after diagnosis.


RESULTS
Findings in nine patients were ground-glass (seven), air-space (five), and tree-in-bud (four) opacities and acute bronchial dilatation (four) and wall thickening (four). Patients lacked pleural effusions or lymph node enlargement. Five of seven patients with follow-up exams had new air trapping (three), persistent bronchial dilatation (three), and thickening (two). Three and 2 of the 10 patients developed bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and obliterative bronchiolitis, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
During acute infection, patients commonly had ground-glass opacities but lacked pleural effusions and lymph node enlargement. There can be chronic sequelae after infection.
Ko
J P
JP
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA. jko@partners.org
Shepard
J A
JA
Sproule
M W
MW
Trotman-Dickenson
B
B
Drucker
E A
EA
Ginns
L C
LC
Wain
J C
JC
McLoud
T C
TC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D012254:Ribavirin