Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common index diagnosis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Eighty percent of AIDS patients will eventually develop PCP. Common presenting symptoms are shortness of breath, cough, weight loss, and fever. The chest radiograph typically reveals a diffuse, bilateral, symmetric, fine-to-medium reticulonodular pattern of opacities. Upper lobe disease has been reported recently in patients who have undergone prophylactic therapy with aerosolized pentamidine. Pneumatoceles, or thin-walled air-containing cysts, have been noted in 10% of patients with PCP. Lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion are extremely rare. Therapy with various agents is generally successful, resulting in clinical and radiographic improvement within 7 to 10 days. Recurrence of PCP is common.
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- Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
- Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
- Humans
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
- Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
- Humans
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology