PULMONARY TOXOPLASMOSIS IN AIDS

The chest radiographs obtained in nine patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and pulmonary toxoplasmosis were reviewed. In three patients, a bilateral, diffuse, fine to medium reticulonodular pattern indistinguishable from that seen in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was observed. In six patients, however, a bilateral, predominantly coarse, nodular pattern was observed. This type of abnormality is unusual with PCP, and its presence may help in distinguishing between pulmonary infections caused by Toxoplasma gondii and P carinii. Other opportunistic pneumonias occurring in patients with AIDS, including tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis, might show similar coarse, nodular opacities on chest radiographs and thus may not be differentiated from pulmonary toxoplasmosis. No hilar or mediastinal adenopathy was observed. Two patients had pleural fluid. Radiologists familiar with the chest radiographic appearance of T gondii pneumonia could be first to suggest this unusual complication of AIDS.