Thoracic imaging manifestations of mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract

Objective To study the chest imaging manifestations of mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS). Methods Thirty-one cases of proven AIDS and MAC infection were included in the study. Imaging findings and clinical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results All 31 patients underwent chest X-ray and/or chest CT examination, three patients were normal, 28 patients showed findings of lung infection. The chest CT imaging findings of MAC lung infection in AIDS patients were similar with pulmonary TB, including air space consolidation (21 cases) with three cases of large consolidation, bronchiectasis (18 cases), nodules (18 cases), miliary nodules (10 cases), cavities (10 cases), pleural effusion (10 cases), predominantly moderately enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (15 cases), and enlarged hilus lymph nodes (7 cases). Conclusions The imaging manifestations of MAC infection in AIDS patients were varied and atypical. Air space consolidation,small nodules and bronchiectasis were the main CT manifestations of MAC pulmonary disease. Key words: Acquired immunodefieieney syndrome; Mycobacterium infections; Tomography, X-ray computed