Abdominal lymphadenopathy in children with AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
To identify conditions associated with abdominal lymphadenopathy in children with vertically-transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.


METHODS
Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans were performed on 29 children over an eight-year period. The presence or absence of abdominal lymphadenopathy (> 10 mm in diameter) was prospectively evaluated at the time of CT. Clinical and histopathologic data in these children was reviewed.


RESULTS
Abdominal lymphadenopathy was noted in eight (28%) children. The lymphadenopathy was isoattenuating relative to adjacent muscle in all cases. The most common specific associated diagnosis was systemic infection with Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (three children). One child had disseminated Kaposi sarcoma while four children had no known associated systemic infection or neoplasm.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal lymphadenopathy was noted at CT in 28% of all HIV-infected children studied with CT and represented a nonspecific finding. The presence of lymphadenopathy should raise the suspicion of disseminated mycobacterial infection; however, it may also be observed in the absence of known systemic infection or neoplasm.
Chung
C J
CJ
Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Sivit
C J
CJ
Rakusan
T A
TA
Ellaurie
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000635:transmission; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed