Clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of AIDS complicated with disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of AIDS complicated with disseminated Penicillium marneffei （PM） infection. Methods A total of 12 patients with AIDS complicated with disseminated PM infection were collected and the symptoms, signs, laboratory examination results and image manifestations of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results （1） The diagnosis of PM infection in all the 12 cases were confirmed by peripheral blood culture. All the 12 cases （100%） had irregular fever （38-41℃） and enlarged lymph nodes, 8 cases （66%） had skin rashes; 8 cases （66%） had hepatomegaly; 9 cases （75%） had splenomegaly while 8 cases （66%） had anemia. （2） Imaging manifestation： Five cases manifested bilateral pulmonary disseminated miliary nodular shadows or lattice signs; 1 case showed enlarged hilar lymph node and 2 cases showed patchy shadow with pleuritis. One case presented sub-pleural curve line shadow at the posterior part of the right lower lung, and adhesion between the intestinal wall and intestinal mesentery in mass form in the abdomen by CT examination. Conclusion Patients suffering from AIDS （CD4 T lymphocytes 〈50/μ L） with impaired immunity might be susceptible to complication of disseminated PM infection, which presents mainly damage of multiple organs and symptoms such as fever; enlargement of liver, spleen and lymph nodes, as well as specific skin maculopapular rashes. Imaging manifestations in the lungs were revealed as miliary nodular shadows and lattice-like shadows. Intensified abdominal CT might reveal presence of several enlarged postperitoneal lymph nodes and intestinal adhesion in shape of ＂cakes＂.

Clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of AIDS complicated with disseminated Penicillium marneffei infection

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and imaging manifestations of AIDS complicated with disseminated Penicillium marneffei (PM) infection. Methods A total of 12 patients with AIDS complicated with disseminated PM infection were collected and the symptoms, signs, laboratory examination results and image manifestations of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results (1) The diagnosis of PM infection in all the 12 cases were confirmed by peripheral blood culture. All the 12 cases (100%) had irregular fever (38-41 ) and enlarged lymph nodes, 8 cases (66%) had skin rashes; 8 cases (66%) had hepatomegaly; 9 cases (75%) had splenomegaly while 8 cases (66%) had anemia. (2) Imaging manifestation: Five cases manifested bilateral pulmonary disseminated miliary nodular shadows or lattice signs; 1 case showed enlarged hilar lymph node and 2 cases showed patchy shadow with pleuritis. One case presented sub-pleural curve line shadow at the posterior part of the right lower lung, and adhesion between the intestinal wall and intestinal mesentery in mass form in the abdomen by CT examination. Conclusion Patients suffering from AIDS (CD4 T lymphocytes <50/ u L) with impaired immunity might be susceptible to complication of disseminated PM infection, which presents mainly damage of multiple organs and symptoms such as fever; enlargement of liver, spleen and lymph nodes, as well as specific skin maculopapular rashes. Imaging manifestations in the lungs were revealed as miliary nodular shadows and lattice-like shadows. Intensified abdominal CT might reveal presence of several enlarged postperitoneal lymph nodes and intestinal adhesion in shape of "cakes".