J Korean Radiol Soc.  1994 Jun;30(6):1147-1150.

Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Lung in Children with Diffuse Pulmonary Lesions Suggesting Pneurnocystis carinii Pneumonia

• Choi YW
• Kim YS
• Jeon SC
• Hahm CK
• Choi CS

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine the following:the safety of fine needle aspiration biopsy in immunocompromized children with radiographic features of Pneumocystis car/nil pneumonia, its diagnostic rate in those groups and the appropriate radiographic stage for fine needle aspiration biopsy to prove the etiologic agent.
METHODS
AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively reviewed the patient records of 16 children with immune compromizing diseases who had undergone fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lung. They showed the infectious sign of the lung along with the radiographic pattern of diffuse pulmonary disease, suggesting Pneumocystis carlnil pneumonia. All patients had underlying lymphoreticular malignancies including 14 acute lymphocytic leukemia and 2 non Hodgkin's lymphoma. According to the radiographic pattern of biopsy site, parenchymal disease was categorized as fine reticulonodular density(n=4), ground-glass opacity(n=9) and compact consolidation(n=3). We assessed the diagnostic rate of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and complications in each of the three groups.
RESULTS
A diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was established by fine needle aspiration biopsy in 9 patients(56%) including 2 of 4 patients with fine reticulonodular density, 4 of 9 patients with ground-glass opacity, and all 3 patients with compact consolidation. Four patients(25%) developed pneumothorax, and three of them required tube insertion. There was no patient who developed hemoptysis.
CONCLUSION
Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and easy method that can yield Pneumocystis carinii organism at a relatively high rate in immunocompromized children with diffuse pulmonary lesions suopicions of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. We recommend performing fine needle aspiration biopsy regardlesss of radiographic patterns when Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is suggested.

MeSH Terms

Biopsy*
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
Child*
Diagnosis
Hemoptysis
Humans
Lung Diseases
Lung*
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Pneumocystis
Pneumocystis carinii
Pneumonia*
Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
Pneumothorax
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
Retrospective Studies