Diagnostic validity of imaging methods in the detection and observation of the progress of cases of invasive aspergillosis of the blood vessels of the lung
Roos, N.; Fahrenkamp, A.; von Eiff, M.; Diederich, S.; Bömmelburg, T.; Ritter, J.; Fegeler, W.; Peters, P.E.
Mycoses 34(Suppl 1): 37-41
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0933-7407 PMID: 1818261 Document Number: 378425
Chest radiographs and thoracic computed tomograms (CT) of 21 patients with oncologic disease and vasoinvasive pulmonary aspergillosis (PA) were assessed and compared. CT findings were interpreted by comparison with histologic lung specimens of 28 lethal cases of PA. The analysis showed that in the early stages of infection findings suggestive of PA were only found in 29% of cases (n = 6) on conventional radiographs, whilst CT suggested the presence of PA in all cases (n = 21). In advanced stages, conventional radiographs suggested the presence of PA in 38% of cases (n = 8), which was not significantly different from that value for early disease. The comparison of CT with histopathologic findings allows their objective interpretation; such studies provide an improvement in both detection rate and characterization of CT changes in PA.