Correlation of diagnostic imaging and autopsy findings of eight patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the imaging findings with pathologic correlation in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS).Methods Imaging findings,autopsy and pathological data were retrospectively analyzed in eight patients with AIDS.Routine CT scanning of different body parts was performed during their hospitalization.CT scanning was performed from the skull to the pelvis immediately following their death.After routine formalin fixing,7 cardevers were cross sectioned for autopsy in freezing state and 1 for gross autopsy.Tissues were obtained from each sections and organs for pathological examinations.Results The autopsy data showed parasitic infections(5 cases),bacterial infections (3 cases),fungal infections(2 cases),virus infections(2 cases),lymphoma(1 case)and cerebrovascular diseases(1 case)in eight patients with AIDS.The CT scanning demonstrated symmetrical ground glass liked shadows with pulmonary hilus as the center in 5 cases of pulmonary PCP infection; pulmonary patchy shadows,scattering distribution of nodular shadows,extensive military nodular shadows with even distribution and tuberculous pleurisy; cloudy shadows for 2 cases of fungi infection with multiple foci of chronic inflammation;pulmonary net-like parenchymal changes for 2 cases of pulmonary CMV infection;thickened intestinal wall and narrowed intestinal lumen for 1 case of intestinal tumor; low density shadows of brain tissue for 1 case of CMV encephalitis and MRI findings of high T_1 and high T_2 signals as well as MRA findings of broken vascular channels in liquefied areas of brain tissues; patchy low density areas inside a cyst of brain for one case of brain toxoplasmosis infectionmultiple small patchy low density areas in cerebral basal ganglia for one case of brain cryptococcus infection.Conclusions In AIDS patients,infection and tumor may occur in various organs resulting in complex symptoms,which makes it more complicated and difficult to make accurate diagnosis.A correlative study of imaging findings and pathological manifestation of AIDS patients at autopsy could be helpful for clinical diagnosis.