Abstract
Purpose: PCP occurs in immunosuppressed patients including those with malignancies. This study analyzed the relationship between the radiological features in chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) of PCP patients without HIV and the outcome or patient's background.
Methods: All 26 patients were diagnosed by respiratory samples combined with chest X-ray and CT findings. We retrospectively analyzed these data at the onset of the sickness.
Results: Twelve patients had malignancies. Fifteen patients had rheumatic and autoimmune disease. Steroid or immunosuppressive agents were administered in 72% and 40% respectively. Five patients received PCP prophylaxis. From a radiological point of view, chest X-ray revealed bilateral infiltration in 13 patients (52%). Chest CT showed a higher proportion of diffuse ground grass opacities (GGO) in 18 patients (72%). Consolidation and plural effusion were seen in 8 (32%) and 11 patients (44%) respectively and none had cystic lesions. All CT findings were classified as follows; 17 (68%) bilateral GGO either with sharp demarcation by interlobular septa (type A) or 4 (16%) without interlobular septal boundaries (type B), 2 (8%) infiltration mixed with GGO and consolidation (type C), 2 (8%) type D representing the rest cases. There was no correlation between these radiological features and outcomes.
Conclusions: Non-HIV PCP could show variety of radiological patterns and chest X-ray was not enough for the diagnosis of PCP. Despite our results, there still remains the possibility of the presence of the correlation of the radiological features or the patients background with the outcome and severity of PCP if more cases are studied. We expect more analysis to be done.
- © 2011 ERS
