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Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
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Published on: December 19, 2020

[Diagnosis of fungal pneumonia in the thoracic CT]

Martina Heckmann1, Michael Uder, Werner Bautz

  • 1Institut für Diagnostische Radiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nirnberg, Maximiliansplatz 1, 91054 Erlangen. Martina.Heckmann@uk-erlangen.de

Rontgenpraxis; Zeitschrift Fur Radiologische Technik
|March 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary fungal infections are a growing concern in immunocompromised patients, often presenting with non-specific symptoms. High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HR-CT) is crucial for early diagnosis of these life-threatening infections.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Fungal lung infections are increasingly prevalent in immunocompromised individuals, including those with neutropenia, undergoing transplantation, chemotherapy, or with HIV infection.
  • Clinical symptoms like fever and cough are often non-specific, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
  • Despite advances in antifungal therapy, morbidity and mortality remain high, underscoring the need for early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of radiologic findings associated with pulmonary fungal infections on CT scans.
  • To discuss differential diagnoses for various fungal pneumonias in immunocompromised patients.
  • To highlight the role of CT in the efficient and non-invasive diagnosis of fungal lung infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of radiologic findings on Computed Tomography (CT) and High-Resolution CT (HR-CT).
  • Illustration of characteristic imaging patterns for common pulmonary fungal infections.
  • Discussion of differential diagnoses based on CT features.

Main Results:

  • CT is an accessible and effective non-invasive tool for diagnosing pulmonary fungal infections.
  • Specific imaging patterns can suggest fungal etiologies, aiding in early diagnosis.
  • The paper illustrates findings for infections caused by Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Candida, Histoplasma, Mucor, and Geotrichum capitatum.

Conclusions:

  • Early and accurate diagnosis of pulmonary fungal infections is critical for improving patient outcomes.
  • HR-CT is a valuable modality for identifying radiologic signs of fungal pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.
  • Understanding CT findings facilitates timely and appropriate management of these infections.

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