PURPOSE: To characterize the imaging features of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia (LPP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Imaging findings of computed tomography (CT) in 38 cases of microbiologically or serologically determined LPP were analyzed and compared with those of 35 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. RESULTS: In cases with LPP, abnormal opacities were distributed in a single lobe in 5 cases, in multiple lobes unilaterally in 10 cases, and multifocally and bilaterally in 23 cases. All cases showed consolidation and/or ground glass opacity in lung fields. Sharply demarcated peribronchovascular foci of consolidation intermingled with ground glass opacity were noted in 24 cases (24 of 38, 63%), whereas imaging features were seen in only 3 cases (3 of 35, 9%) of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. These CT patterns have nothing to do with clinical features such as age, sex, severity of disease, and time between onset of disease and CT examination. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging features of LPP on CT include bilateral and unilateral single and multifocal consolidation and ground opacity. Sharply demarcated peribronchovascular foci of consolidation intermingled with ground glass opacity seem to be one of the most frequent CT appearances of LPP.
PURPOSE: To characterize the imaging features of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia (LPP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Imaging findings of computed tomography (CT) in 38 cases of microbiologically or serologically determined LPP were analyzed and compared with those of 35 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. RESULTS: In cases with LPP, abnormal opacities were distributed in a single lobe in 5 cases, in multiple lobes unilaterally in 10 cases, and multifocally and bilaterally in 23 cases. All cases showed consolidation and/or ground glass opacity in lung fields. Sharply demarcated peribronchovascular foci of consolidation intermingled with ground glass opacity were noted in 24 cases (24 of 38, 63%), whereas imaging features were seen in only 3 cases (3 of 35, 9%) of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. These CT patterns have nothing to do with clinical features such as age, sex, severity of disease, and time between onset of disease and CT examination. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging features of LPP on CT include bilateral and unilateral single and multifocal consolidation and ground opacity. Sharply demarcated peribronchovascular foci of consolidation intermingled with ground glass opacity seem to be one of the most frequent CT appearances of LPP.
Authors: M C B Godoy; C Viswanathan; E Marchiori; M T Truong; M F Benveniste; S Rossi; E M Marom Journal: Br J Radiol Date: 2012-05-02 Impact factor: 3.039