Pneumocystis jiroveci (formerly carinii)

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Pneumocystis jiroveci: chest X ray with bilateral granular opacities and cysts

Description

Chest radiograph of an HIV-infected patient, CD4 count of <200 cells/µL, revealing bilateral, predominantly central, granular opacities and 3 thin-walled air-containing cysts (pneumatoceles) (arrows). This combination of findings is strongly suggestive of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, which was microscopically confirmed by examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Credits

Laurence Huang, MD, University of California San Francisco

See related article in the HIV InSite Knowledge Base:
Pulmonary Manifestations of HIV

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