Hematogenous Candida Pneumonia in Major Burn Patients: Plain Chest Radiograph and Thin-section CT Findings

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe plain radiographic and thin-section CT findings of hematogenous candida pneumonia in major burn patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed nine cases of hematogenous candida pneumonia in major burn patients who had positive blood culture for candida and findings of pneumonia on plain chest radiograph. On five of nine cases, thin-section CT was done. We evaluated retrospectively nine cases for onset, the pattern, distribution, and size of lesions on plain chest radiograph and thin-section CT. RESULTS: On plain chest radiograph, randomly distributed 2-10mm nodules were seen in six cases(66%) and randomly distributed 10-15mm consolidations in remaining three cases{33% ). Lesion occured in 11th to 75th post-burn day{average, 34th post-burn day). Other findings were cardiomegaly in three cases, atelectasis in three cases, and pulmonary edema in one case. Thin-section CT showed variable shaped subpleural nodules in all five cases. The size of nodules were 1-5mm in two cases(40%) and 5-10mm(60% ) in three cases. Feeding vessel signs were seen in two cases. Other findings were atelectasis in three cases, cardiomegaly in three cases, ground-glass opacity and interlobular septal thickenings by pulmonary edema in two cases. CONCLUSION: Plain chest radiographic findings of hematogenous candida pneumonia in major burn patients are randomly distributed nodules or consolidations of variable size. Thin-section CT findings are variable shaped subpleural nodules less than 1 cm.