摘要:

The incidence of fungal pneumonias has increased dramatically since the 1960s, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Fungal infections may be divided into endemic and opportunistic varieties. In general, the truly pathogenic (endemic) fungi infect healthy individuals, and opportunistic fungi usually infect only immunocompromised hosts. Almost all common fungal infections are acquired by inhalation of contaminated soil, resulting in pulmonary infections. Once in the lungs, the fungi elicit tissue responses ranging from acute exudative reactions to granulomatous reactions. The pulmonary lesions may resolve, progress to a prolonged chronic course, or disseminate to other organs, resulting in systemic infections. The diagnosis of fungal infection depends on the demonstration of the organisms by culture or histology; serologic tests may confirm the diagnosis. Fungi in tissues can be identified by hematoxylin and eosin stains, but special stains such as Gomori's methenamine silver and periodic acid-Schiff reagent are often required for diagnosis.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and blastomycosis are the most common deep pulmonary fungal infections encountered by the clinician. Each has a particular environmental habitat. As world travel increases, exposure to these infections becomes increasingly more common. The article reviews the microbiology, natural history, and clinical and laboratory findings of these diseases. Treatment options for these infections also are discussed.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Pulmonary blastomycosis has a number of chest radiographic manifestations that may closely resemble those of tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and other fungal diseases. Radiographic presentations of disease include airspace consolidation, nodular opacities, air bronchograms, masslike lesions, and miliary disease. Because the geographic distribution of blastomycosis overlaps that of histoplasmosis, distinguishing one from the other on the basis of the radiographic features may be difficult. In blastomycosis, the paucity of calcifications, lymphadenopathy, and cavitation is striking. The article reviews the clinical and radiologic features of blastomycosis and provides illustrative cases to enhance understanding of this disease.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease endemic in the southwestern desert area of the United States. The infection is acquired by inhalation of arthrospores, and 60% of the infections are asymptomatic. Chest radiographic abnormalities are common and may even be seen in asymptomatic cases. In patients with acute infection, segmental or lobar consolidation and nodular or patchy pulmonary opacities are frequent. Hilar and mediastinal adenopathy may be present in 20% of cases, usually with parenchymal findings. A small pleural effusion may occur in 20% of cases. Approximately 5% of patients with primary disease are left with chronic, residual lesions of the lung. These consist of nodules, cavities, pneumonia, adenopathy, pleural effusion, fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and calcification. Rarely, in about 0.5% of cases, the infection may disseminate to any organ. The chest radiograph demonstrates a miliary or reticulonodular pattern and mediastinal adenopathy. Overall the disease is benign in nature; but patients with severe, progressive pulmonary or disseminated disease often require medical and occasionally surgical management.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease that is seen throughout the world. It is the most common systemic fungal infection in North America, and it is endemic in the Mississippi, Ohio, and St Lawrence River valleys. Its radiographic and clinical spectrum ranges from a totally self-limited disease with minimal or no radiographic findings to a rapidly progressive, disseminated, and sometimes fatal disease. The article discusses the various aspects of thoracic histoplasmosis with emphasis on the radiographic findings.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Cryptococcus neoformansis a ubiquitous soil fungus that rarely causes pneumonia in normal hosts but is a common cause of opportunistic infection. Pulmonary disease is initiated by inhalation of the organism, and a spectrum of radiographic manifestations can be seen. The most common finding is a poorly marginated nodule or mass. Lobar or segmental parenchymal opacities and, less commonly, a diffuse scattered nodular or reticulonodular pattern have also been observed. Associated adenopathy, pleural effusions, and cavitation are uncommon; when present, these are more common in immunocompromised patients. Establishing the diagnosis can be difficult, but pulmonary cryptococcosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients in the proper clinical setting and with compatible radiographic findings.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Aspergillusspecies can produce a wide range of pulmonary disorders. Classically, pulmonary aspergiliosis has been categorized into invasive, saprophytic, and allergic forms, all of which differ in their manifestations and therapy. More recently, however, other types of infection by this fungus have been recognized that do not fit into these traditional categories; an example is semi-invasive (chronic necrotizing) aspergillosis. In fact, these forms have features that are intermediate between those of the invasive and saprophytic types. The various types of aspergillosis can be regarded as constituting a continuous spectrum, ranging from invasive disease in the severely immunosuppressed patient to hypersensitivity reactions such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (and bronchocentric granulomatosis) in the hyperreactive patient. Between these extremes are chronic necrotizing disease seen in mildly immunocompromised hosts, and the noninvasive aspergilloma, which is due to saprophytic growth within a previously diseased area of lung in an otherwise normal host. Other intermediate forms may be encountered, their behavior being determined by the host immune status in combination with the underlying lung morphology. The radiographic and clinical features of these various forms of pulmonary aspergillosis are reviewed, including the more recently reported forms of infection such asAspergillustracheobronchitis and aspergillosis associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and cystic fibrosis. The proposed concept of a disease spectrum is emphasized.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

ActinomycesandNocardiaspecies are frequently overlooked pulmonary pathogens until their presence is histologically proved. These infections often are not considered in the differential diagnosis of lung disease because of the spectrum of their presentation, the similarity of their appearance to other granulomatous or neoplastic diseases, and coexistence of these infections with other pulmonary conditions. Pulmonary actinomycosis is characterized by pulmonary consolidation, frequently with cavitation and spread to contiguous tissues without regard for normal anatomic barriers. The appearance often is confused with that of bronchogenic carcinoma or other granulomatous infections, especially tuberculosis. Pulmonary nocardiosis most frequently develops in immunocompromised patients, and the incidence of this infection is increasing. The radiographic manifestations of nocardiosis are pleomorphic, but early recognition is essential to initiate appropriate therapy.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Eight documented cases of pulmonary zygomycosis were analyzed retrospectively with regard to radiographic and clinical features. Predisposing factors were diabetes mellitus in six cases, lymphoblastic lymphoma in one case, and surgery to correct a tracheoesophageal fistula in one case. Two of the patients with diabetes had also undergone renal transplantation for diabetic nephropathy and were immunosuppressed. The more usual radiographic findings of pulmonary zygomycosis represent a spectrum that comprises a normal chest radiograph, a lung abscess, subacute or chronic pneumonia that often evolves into a lung abscess, and rapidly progressive fatal pneumonia. Awareness of the various presentations of pulmonary zygomycosis is important because early diagnosis and appropriate therapy clearly have been shown to improve the survival rate of these patients. Zygomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis when patients with diabetes mellitus, patients with leukemia or lymphoma, or immunocompromised patients present with or develop perplexing pulmonary abnormalities.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Although fungal infections of the thorax are often asymptomatic in children, fungi are capable of producing significant pulmonary and mediastinal disease in this population. Young infants and immunocompromised children are at increased risk for fungal infections and often develop disseminated disease. Pulmonary fungal infections present with a wide variety of findings, many of which are nonspecific. The article reviews the clinical and imaging characteristics of the more important fungal diseases that affect the thorax of infants and children.

ISSN:0883-5993    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID