ABSTRACT

To investigate the findings of pneumocystis carini pneumonia in immune compromised patients with AIDS who were followed up in our center.

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.

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.

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