Etiology of Solitary Pulmonary Nodules in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

We assessed 10 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (nine of whom had AIDS) and solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) that were detected on roentgenograms. Five of the patients presented with respiratory symptoms. The etiology of the SPN was determined for eight of these patients:...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 1997-05, Vol.24 (5), p.908-913
Main Authors: Martínez-Marcos, Francisco J., Viciana, Pompeyo, Cañas, Elias, Martín-Juan, José, Moreno, Ignacio, Pachón, Jerónimo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications
Adult
AIDS
AIDS/HIV
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsies
Biopsy, Needle
Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Bronchoscopy
Clinical Articles
Cryptococcus neoformans
Cytomegalovirus
Diagnosis, Differential
Etiology
Female
HIV Infections - complications
human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Immunodeficiencies
Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies
Immunopathology
Infection - complications
Infection - microbiology
Infections
Lesions
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - complications
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Nocardia asteroides
Nodules
Pneumocystis carinii
Radiography
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Solitary pulmonary nodule
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - diagnosis
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - diagnostic imaging
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - etiology
Sputum
Sputum - cytology
Survival Rate
Thoracotomy
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We assessed 10 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (nine of whom had AIDS) and solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) that were detected on roentgenograms. Five of the patients presented with respiratory symptoms. The etiology of the SPN was determined for eight of these patients: six had infections (hydatidosis, mucormycosis, or infection with Nocardia asteroides, Cryptococcus neoformans, cytomegalovirus, or Pneumocystis carinii), one had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the remaining patient had round atelectasis. Sputum studies were of no diagnostic value in any of these cases. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy was diagnostic in two of seven cases, and percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) was diagnostic in one of four cases. Several microorganisms that were not the cause of the SPNs were observed in samples of sputum, bronchoscopic specimens, and PTNB specimens. Thoracotomy was diagnostic in the three cases in which it was performed. We conclude that the management of SPNs in HIV-infected patients is complicated by the low sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic tests used.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1093/clinids/24.5.908