Apical Pneumocystis jiroveci as an AIDS defining illness: A case report illustrating a change in the paradigm

Authors

  • Kyle Pfeifer
  • Vivek Kalra
  • Adeniran Adebowale
  • Manisha Juthani-Mehta
  • Myung Soo-Shin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v8i11.1772

Keywords:

AIDS, Infection, PJP, Pneumocystis jiroveci, PCP, Pneumocystis carinii, pneumonia, Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Abstract

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is a common acquired immune deficiency syndrome defining illness. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is classically described as having symmetrical bilateral perihilar ground-glass opacities on chest radiographs.  We present an "atypical" case of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia presenting as symmetric biapical cystic spaces with relative sparing of the remainder of the lungs in a 22 year-old male, previously undiagnosed with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Our case illustrates that formerly unusual presentations of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia are becoming more common as acquired immune deficiency syndrome defining illnesses as more patients are being imaged with further imaging such as high resolution computed tomography.

Author Biographies

Kyle Pfeifer

Yale New Haven Hospital Department of Radiology

Radiology Resident

Vivek Kalra

Yale New Haven Hospital Department of radiology

Neuroradiology Fellow

Adeniran Adebowale

Yale New Haven Hospital Department of Pathology

Pathology Faculty

Manisha Juthani-Mehta

Yale New Haven Hospital Department of Infectious Disease

Infectious Disease Faculty

Myung Soo-Shin

Yale New Haven Hospital Department of Radiology

Radiology Faculty

Published

2014-11-24

Issue

Section

Thoracic Radiology