Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Correlation between gallium lung scans and fiberoptic bronchoscopy in patients with suspected Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984 Dec;130(6):1166-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/85070534 Coleman DL; Hattner RS; Luce JM; Dodek PM; Golden JA; Murray JF
Abstract:
We retrospectively examined the sensitivity and specificity of gallium lung scans for detecting Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in 22 patients with known or suspected acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Correlations were made between bronchoscopic results and gallium scan findings interpreted using a simple system (normal or abnormal) and a graded score (1 to 4). All 12 patients with Pneumocystis had abnormal scans by both interpretations (sensitivity, 100%). Five of these 12 patients had normal arterial PO2 values, chest roentgenograms, or both. In the 10 patients without Pneumocystis, scans were read as abnormal in 8 using the simple system (specificity, 20%) but were abnormal in only 1 using the grading system (specificity, 90%). Five patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia had scans and bronchoscopy after treatment; neither method of interpretation correlated with the presence of organisms. We conclude: (1) gallium scanning is a sensitive initial diagnostic test in patients with suspected Pneumocystis pneumonia; (2) a graded scoring system improves specificity; (3) an abnormal gallium scan (3 or greater) in patients with suspected Pneumocystis pneumonia is an indication for biopsy, even when the PO2 and/or chest roentgenogram are normal.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS Adult Bronchoscopy Fiber Optics Follow-Up Studies Gallium Radioisotopes/DIAGNOSTIC USE Human Lung/*RADIOGRAPHY Male Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/COMPLICATIONS/*RADIOGRAPHY Retrospective Studies Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. JOURNAL ARTICLE
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
