Complications of Klebsiella pneumonia: CT evaluation

To evaluate the CT features of complicated Klebsiella pneumonia.

We retrospectively reviewed 15 CT examinations from 11 consecutive patients with complicated Klebsiella pneumonia with special attention to internal architecture of pneumonic consolidation and its changes on follow-up CT. On plain radiography, abscess or cavitation was suspected in all patients. The diagnosis was established by isolation of Klebsiella pneumoniae from blood in six patients, from sputum in two, and from both in three. Five patients underwent follow-up CT due to progression (one) or incomplete resolution (four) of the disease despite antimicrobial therapy.

In all patients pneumonic consolidation was composed of two intermingled components: enhancing homogeneous areas and poorly marginated low-density areas with multiple small air cavities, suggesting necrotizing pneumonia. In nine patients scattered enhancing structures probably due to atelectatic lung and pulmonary vessels were noted within necrotic areas of consolidated lung. In eight patients pleural complications such as effusion (all) or diffuse pleural enhancement (five) were seen. In two patients with multilobar disease and delayed treatment, multiple small abscess cavities coalesced to form a large cavity with sloughing of lung tissue, suggesting pulmonary gangrene and lung abscess formation on 18 and 45 day follow-up CT, respectively. In three other patients necrotizing pneumonia resolved slowly from the periphery to the center with residual fibrosis on follow-up CT at 2-3 months.

The most common CT manifestation of complicated Klebsiella pneumonia was necrotizing pneumonia associated with pleural abnormalities. In extensive cases, pulmonary gangrene or lung abscess was a rare complication.