Radiographic chest findings and clinical correlations in leptospirosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical presentations, radiographic chest findings, and their correlation in patients with leptospirosis. DESIGN: A cross sectional study. SETTING: Between July 2001- December 2002 at 3 hospitals in North Eastern Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two hundred and forty patients with laboratory confirmed leptospirosis. RESULTS: Two hundred and nine (87.1%) patients were males. The mean age was 37.53 years (range 13-76). The median duration of fever was 3 days (range 1-13). Overall, 154 patients (64.2%) had respiratory symptoms and 26 (10.8%) patients had hemoptysis. Jaundice was detected in 76 (31.7%) patients, hypotension in 50 (20.8%), renal dysfunction in 80 (30%), and multiorgan dysfunction in 62 (25.8%) on admission. One hundred and fifty-four (64.17%) patients had abnormal chest radiographs on admission (classified as cardiovascular, pulmonary, and mixed cardio-pulmonary involvement in 40 (25.97%), 41 (26.62%), and 73 (47.4%) patients, respectively). Jaundice was significantly associated with the likelihood of having abnormal chest radiography on admission. Air- space nodules detected on the chest radiograph were significantly more common in patients with renal dysfunction and patients who required mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary and cardiovascular involvements are common in leptospirosis. Air-space nodules detected by chest radiography may indicate severe leptospirosis.

HRCT of pulmonary tuberculosis mimics malignancy: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential predictors of high resolution CT (HRCT) findings of pulmonary mass caused by tuberculosis (Tbc). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study of chest HRCT was performed in 10 patients diagnosed as pulmonary Tbc. The size, characteristics of lesions, enhancement and mediastinal lymphadenopathy were interpreted. The final diagnosis was reached by laboratory and pathological specimens or clinical improvement from treatment of the Tbc. RESULTS: Of 10 patients, 6 were males and 4 were females. The mean age was 53.5 years old. There were 13 masses analyzed. The mean size of the lesions was 2.3 cm and 53.8% had diameters more than 2 cm. The locations of lesions were right upper lobe (30.8%), right middle lobe (7.7%), right lower lobe (38.5%) and left upper lobe (23.1%). Calcification was found in two lesions. The HRCT findings were spiculated margin (76.9%), lobulated margin (23.1%), smooth margin (7.7%), ground-glass opacity (23.1%), concave border (61.5%), polygonal shape (53.8%), air bronchogram (38.5%), pseudocavity (15.4%), pleural tag (30.8%), distortion of vessels (23.1%), satellite lesions (38.5%), and peripheral subpleural lesion (46.2%). Only 7 cases of enhanced study were available and two cases showed enhancement. Of the 10 cases, mediastinal lymphadenopathy was found in 8(80%) cases. The size of the lymph nodes was less than 2 cm in 6 cases and larger than 2 cm in 2 cases. Other associated findings were pleural thickening or effusion (60%), evidence of volume loss (20%), emphysema (40%), and infiltrations (50%). CONCLUSION: Many characteristics of Tbc lesion on HRCT mimic reported malignant lesions. Re-evaluation of value of HRCT for controversial lesions is needed