High Resolution Computed Tomography Lung Spectrum in Symptomatic Adult HIV-Positive Patients in South-East Asian...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Pulmonary infections are a major cause of illness and death in people with HIV globally.
• High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) aids in diagnosing lung conditions in these patients.
• This study aimed to characterize HRCT findings in HIV-infected individuals with chest symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the spectrum of lung parenchymal and interstitial imaging findings on HRCT in HIV-infected patients presenting with chest symptoms.
• To correlate HRCT findings with specific pulmonary infections in this population.

Main Methods:

• A study of 45 HIV-positive patients with suspected pulmonary disease was conducted at a tertiary care center in New Delhi, India.
• Detailed clinical history and physical examinations were performed.
• All patients underwent High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) of the chest.

Main Results:

• Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in 62.2% of patients, bacterial infection in 20%, and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) in 8.9%.
• Nodular opacities were common in pulmonary tuberculosis.
• Lobar consolidation was the most frequent HRCT finding in bacterial infections, while diffuse ground-glass opacities were seen in PJP.

Conclusions:

• HRCT is a sensitive method for detecting and characterizing lung lesions in HIV patients.
• Correlation of HRCT findings with clinical data, CD4 counts, and other investigations is crucial for accurate diagnosis.