Objective:
To investigate the findings of pneumocystis carini pneumonia in immune compromised patients with AIDS who were followed up in our center.
Material and Methods:
The study involved 12 male and 8 female HIV patients (n=20) who had been suffering from the disease for a mean of 4 years. The CT findings of all the patients were regularly recorded and classified. The samples of sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage of the patients were used for definitive diagnosis.
Results:
The CT findings of the patients (n=20) revealed that all had bilateral involvement. Sixteen of the patients (80%) had asymmetrical and 4 patients (20%) had symmetrical involvement. A higher rate of patched infiltration (n=12, 60%) than diffused infiltration (n=8, 40%) was observed. In most of the patients (n=13, 65%) air space and interstitium was involved, while in some either air space (n=5, 25%) or interstitium (n=2, 10%) was involved. In 9 patients (45%), ground glass appearance and in one patient (5%) apical fungal cavity and in two patients (10%) apical air cysts were detected.
Conclusion:
Immunsuppression unassociated with AIDS has been a common occurrence due to immune suppressive clinical treatments. Pneumocystis carini pneumonia is a common infection among these cases. However, treatment is easy and possible when this clinical entity is diagnosed appropriately.
Keywords: Pneumocystis carinii, pneumonia, AIDS, HIV, computed tomography