Related Experiment Videos
Presentation of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as unilateral hyperlucent lung
D C Stokes1, J L Shenep, M E Horowitz
1Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis.
Insights
Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) can manifest as a rare unilateral hyperlucent lung in children undergoing chemotherapy for brain tumors. Suspect PCP in pediatric cancer patients not on prophylaxis and receiving intensive treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a significant opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals.
- Typical PCP presentation involves bilateral infiltrates, particularly in non-AIDS patients.
- Pediatric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are at high risk for opportunistic infections.
Abstract:
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) presented as unilateral hyperlucent lung in a 27-month-old patient with a brain tumor who was receiving chemotherapy. Although unilateral pneumonia is an uncommon presentation of PCP in non-AIDS patients, PCP must be suspected in any pediatric cancer patient not receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis and receiving intensive chemotherapy.