Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever: A State-of-the-Art Review Focused in Pulmonary Involvement.

Dengue fever is an arboviral disease transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Aedes mosquitoes. Dengue virus is a member of the Flaviviridae family, and human infection can be caused by any of the four antigenically distinct serotypes (DENV 1-4). The infection has become recognized as the most important and prevalent arboviral disease in humans, endemic in almost 100 countries worldwide. Nearly 3 billion people live in areas with transmission risk. Autochthonous transmission of the virus in previously disease-free areas, increased incidence in endemic areas, and epidemic resurgence in controlled regions could increase the risk of contracting more severe forms of the disease, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)/dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Symptomatic dengue virus infection can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, from mild fever to life-threatening DSS. Thoracic complications may manifest as pleural effusion, pneumonitis, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and hemorrhage/hemoptysis. No vaccine is currently available and no specific treatment for dengue fever exists, but prevention and prompt management of complications in patients with DHF can help reduce mortality. This review describes the main clinical, pathological, and imaging findings of thoracic involvement in DHF.

Respiratory Tract Amyloidosis. State-of-the-Art Review with a Focus on Pulmonary Involvement.

Amyloidosis is a constellation of disease entities characterized by abnormal extracellular deposition and accumulation of protein and protein derivatives, which show apple-green birefringence when stained with Congo red and viewed under polarized light. Amyloid can infiltrate virtually all organ systems and can display multiple and diverse imaging findings. Pathologically, respiratory involvement occurs in 50 % of patients with amyloidosis, and its clinical signs and symptoms vary depending on whether the disease is systemic or localized. The four main patterns of respiratory tract involvement are tracheobronchial, nodular parenchymal, diffuse alveolar septal, and lymphatic. Imaging findings of amyloidosis are nonspecific and vary in each pattern; knowledge about the disease impairment type is thus very important, and amyloidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of other very common diseases, such as infectious diseases, neoplasms, and vasculitis. This literature review describes the main clinical and imaging manifestations of amyloidosis, focusing on respiratory tract involvement and differential diagnosis.

Computed tomography findings of pulmonary histoplasmosis: pictorial essay.

Endemic systemic mycoses are prevalent in specific geographic areas of the world and are responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality in the populations of such areas, as well as in immigrants and travelers returning from endemic regions. Pulmonary histoplasmosis is an infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus. This infection has a worldwide distribution, being endemic in Brazil. Histoplasmosis can affect the lungs, and its diagnosis and management remain challenging, especially in non-endemic areas. Therefore, recognition of the various radiological manifestations of pulmonary histoplasmosis, together with the clinical and epidemiological history of the patient, is essential to narrowing the differential diagnosis. This essay discusses the main computed tomography findings of pulmonary histoplasmosis.

As micoses sistêmicas endêmicas são prevalentes em áreas geográficas específicas do mundo e são responsáveis por altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade nessas populações e em imigrantes e viajantes que retornam de regiões endêmicas. A histoplasmose pulmonar é uma infecção causada pelo Histoplasma capsulatum, um fungo dimórfico. Essa infecção tem distribuição mundial, apresentando-se de forma endêmica no Brasil. A histoplasmose pode afetar os pulmões de pacientes, e seu diagnóstico e manejo permanecem desafiadores, especialmente em áreas não endêmicas. Portanto, o reconhecimento das várias manifestações radiológicas da histoplasmose pulmonar associadas a história clínica e epidemiológica dos pacientes é fundamental para estreitar o diagnóstico diferencial. Este ensaio discute os principais achados tomográficos da histoplasmose pulmonar.

Computed tomography findings of pulmonary histoplasmosis: pictorial essay / Aspectos tomográficos da histoplasmose pulmonar: ensaio iconográfico

Abstract Endemic systemic mycoses are prevalent in specific geographic areas of the world and are responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality in the populations of such areas, as well as in immigrants and travelers returning from endemic regions. Pulmonary histoplasmosis is an infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus. This infection has a worldwide distribution, being endemic in Brazil. Histoplasmosis can affect the lungs, and its diagnosis and management remain challenging, especially in non-endemic areas. Therefore, recognition of the various radiological manifestations of pulmonary histoplasmosis, together with the clinical and epidemiological history of the patient, is essential to narrowing the differential diagnosis. This essay discusses the main computed tomography findings of pulmonary histoplasmosis.

Resumo As micoses sistêmicas endêmicas são prevalentes em áreas geográficas específicas do mundo e são responsáveis por altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade nessas populações e em imigrantes e viajantes que retornam de regiões endêmicas. A histoplasmose pulmonar é uma infecção causada pelo Histoplasma capsulatum, um fungo dimórfico. Essa infecção tem distribuição mundial, apresentando-se de forma endêmica no Brasil. A histoplasmose pode afetar os pulmões de pacientes, e seu diagnóstico e manejo permanecem desafiadores, especialmente em áreas não endêmicas. Portanto, o reconhecimento das várias manifestações radiológicas da histoplasmose pulmonar associadas a história clínica e epidemiológica dos pacientes é fundamental para estreitar o diagnóstico diferencial. Este ensaio discute os principais achados tomográficos da histoplasmose pulmonar.

Tomographic assessment of thoracic fungal diseases: a pattern and signs approach.

Pulmonary fungal infections, which can be opportunistic or endemic, lead to considerable morbidity and mortality. Such infections have multiple clinical presentations and imaging patterns, overlapping with those of various other diseases, complicating the diagnostic approach. Given the immensity of Brazil, knowledge of the epidemiological context of pulmonary fungal infections in the various regions of the country is paramount when considering their differential diagnoses. In addition, defining the patient immunological status will facilitate the identification of opportunistic infections, such as those occurring in patients with AIDS or febrile neutropenia. Histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis usually affect immunocompetent patients, whereas aspergillosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, and pneumocystosis tend to affect those who are immunocompromised. Ground-glass opacities, nodules, consolidations, a miliary pattern, cavitary lesions, the halo sign/reversed halo sign, and bronchiectasis are typical imaging patterns in the lungs and will be described individually, as will less common lesions such as pleural effusion, mediastinal lesions, pleural effusion, and chest wall involvement. Interpreting such tomographic patterns/signs on computed tomography scans together with the patient immunological status and epidemiological context can facilitate the differential diagnosis by narrowing the options.

Pneumopatias fúngicas proporcionam considerável morbidade e mortalidade, podendo ser oportunistas ou endêmicas. De maneira geral, as apresentações clínicas e padrões de imagem são múltiplos e superponíveis a várias doenças, dificultando a abordagem diagnóstica. Tendo em conta a amplitude do território nacional, o conhecimento da realidade epidemiológica dessas doenças em cada região é fundamental para a consideração delas no diagnóstico diferencial. A definição do estado imunológico irá, ainda, definir a possibilidade de doenças fúngicas oportunistas, por exemplo, na síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida ou em situações de neutropenia febril. Em geral, histoplasmose, coccidioidomicose e paracoccidioidomicose comprometem indivíduos imunocompetentes, e aspergilose, candidíase, criptococose e pneumocistose comprometem indivíduos imunodeprimidos. Vidro fosco, nódulos, consolidações, micronódulos de disseminação miliar, lesões escavadas, sinal do halo/halo invertido e bronquiectasias são padrões tomográficos frequentes no acometimento pulmonar e serão abordados individualmente, além de apresentações menos frequentes, como lesões mediastinais, derrame pleural e acometimento da parede torácica. A interpretação desses padrões/sinais tomográficos básicos associados a dados epidemiológicos e estado imunológico do paciente pode ser útil, contribuindo para o estreitamento das opções diagnósticas.

Metastatic pulmonary calcification: high-resolution computed tomography findings in 23 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in patients diagnosed with metastatic pulmonary calcification (MPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the HRCT findings from 23 cases of MPC [14 men, 9 women; mean age, 54.3 (range, 26-89) years]. The patients were examined between 2000 and 2014 in nine tertiary hospitals in Brazil, Chile, and Canada. Diagnoses were established by histopathologic study in 18 patients and clinical-radiological correlation in 5 patients. Two chest radiologists analyzed the images and reached decisions by consensus. RESULTS: The predominant HRCT findings were centrilobular ground-glass nodules (n = 14; 60.9%), consolidation with high attenuation (n = 10; 43.5%), small dense nodules (n = 9; 39.1%), peripheral reticular opacities associated with small calcified nodules (n = 5; 21.7%), and ground-glass opacities without centrilobular ground-glass nodular opacity (n = 5; 21.7%). Vascular calcification within the chest wall was found in four cases and pleural effusion was observed in five cases. The abnormalities were bilateral in 21 cases. CONCLUSION: MPC manifested with three main patterns on HRCT, most commonly centrilobular ground-glass nodules, often containing calcifications, followed by dense consolidation and small solid nodules, most of which were calcified. We also described another pattern of peripheral reticular opacities associated with small calcified nodules. These findings should suggest the diagnosis of MPC in the setting of hypercalcemia.

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os achados de tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução (TCAR) em pacientes com diagnóstico de calcificação pulmonar metastática (CPM). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Revisamos, retrospectivamente, os achados na TCAR de 23 casos de CPM [14 homens e 9 mulheres; idade média, 54,3 (intervalo, 26-89) anos]. Os pacientes foram examinados entre 2000 e 2014 em nove hospitais terciários no Brasil, Chile e Canadá. O diagnóstico foi estabelecido por estudo histopatológico em 18 pacientes e correlação clinicorradiológica em 5 pacientes. Dois radiologistas de tórax analisaram as imagens e chegaram a decisões por consenso. RESULTADOS: Os achados predominantes na TCAR foram nódulos centrolobulares em vidro fosco (n = 14; 60,9%), consolidação com alta atenuação (n = 10; 43,5%), pequenos nódulos densos (n = 9; 39,1%), opacidades reticulares periféricas associadas com pequenos nódulos calcificados (n = 5; 21,7%) e opacidades em vidro fosco sem nódulos centrolobulares em vidro fosco (n = 5; 21,7%). Calcificação vascular na parede torácica foi encontrada em quatro casos e derrame pleural foi observado em cinco casos. As anormalidades foram bilaterais em 21 casos. CONCLUSÃO: CPM manifestou-se com três padrões principais na TCAR. O aspecto mais comum foram os nódulos centrolobulares em vidro fosco, frequentemente contendo calcificações, seguido de consolidação densa e de pequenos nódulos sólidos, a maioria deles calcificada. Também descrevemos o padrão de opacidades reticulares periféricas associadas a pequenos nódulos calcificados. Esses achados devem sugerir o diagnóstico de CPM no contexto de hipercalcemia.

Thoracic lymphadenopathy in benign diseases: A state of the art review.

Lymphadenopathy is a common radiological finding in many thoracic diseases and may be caused by a variety of infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions. This review aims to describe the patterns of mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy found in benign diseases in immunocompetent patients. Computed tomography is the method of choice for the evaluation of lymphadenopathy, as it is able to demonstrate increased size of individual nodes, abnormalities of the interface between the mediastinum and lung, invasion of surrounding fat, coalescence of adjacent nodes, obliteration of the mediastinal fat, and hypo- and hyperdensity in lymph nodes. Intravenous contrast enhancement may be needed to help distinguish nodes from vessels. The most frequent infections resulting in this finding are tuberculosis and fungal disease (particularly histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis). Sarcoidosis is a relatively frequent cause of lymphadenopathy in young adults, and can be distinguished from other diseases - especially when enlarged lymph nodes are found to be multiple and symmetrical. Other conditions discussed in this review are silicosis, drug reactions, amyloidosis, heart failure, Castleman's disease, viral infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Tomographic assessment of thoracic fungal diseases: a pattern and signs approach / Avaliação tomográfica das doenças fúngicas no tórax: abordagem por padrões e sinais

Abstract Pulmonary fungal infections, which can be opportunistic or endemic, lead to considerable morbidity and mortality. Such infections have multiple clinical presentations and imaging patterns, overlapping with those of various other diseases, complicating the diagnostic approach. Given the immensity of Brazil, knowledge of the epidemiological context of pulmonary fungal infections in the various regions of the country is paramount when considering their differential diagnoses. In addition, defining the patient immunological status will facilitate the identification of opportunistic infections, such as those occurring in patients with AIDS or febrile neutropenia. Histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis usually affect immunocompetent patients, whereas aspergillosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, and pneumocystosis tend to affect those who are immunocompromised. Ground-glass opacities, nodules, consolidations, a miliary pattern, cavitary lesions, the halo sign/reversed halo sign, and bronchiectasis are typical imaging patterns in the lungs and will be described individually, as will less common lesions such as pleural effusion, mediastinal lesions, pleural effusion, and chest wall involvement. Interpreting such tomographic patterns/signs on computed tomography scans together with the patient immunological status and epidemiological context can facilitate the differential diagnosis by narrowing the options.

Resumo Pneumopatias fúngicas proporcionam considerável morbidade e mortalidade, podendo ser oportunistas ou endêmicas. De maneira geral, as apresentações clínicas e padrões de imagem são múltiplos e superponíveis a várias doenças, dificultando a abordagem diagnóstica. Tendo em conta a amplitude do território nacional, o conhecimento da realidade epidemiológica dessas doenças em cada região é fundamental para a consideração delas no diagnóstico diferencial. A definição do estado imunológico irá, ainda, definir a possibilidade de doenças fúngicas oportunistas, por exemplo, na síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida ou em situações de neutropenia febril. Em geral, histoplasmose, coccidioidomicose e paracoccidioidomicose comprometem indivíduos imunocompetentes, e aspergilose, candidíase, criptococose e pneumocistose comprometem indivíduos imunodeprimidos. Vidro fosco, nódulos, consolidações, micronódulos de disseminação miliar, lesões escavadas, sinal do halo/halo invertido e bronquiectasias são padrões tomográficos frequentes no acometimento pulmonar e serão abordados individualmente, além de apresentações menos frequentes, como lesões mediastinais, derrame pleural e acometimento da parede torácica. A interpretação desses padrões/sinais tomográficos básicos associados a dados epidemiológicos e estado imunológico do paciente pode ser útil, contribuindo para o estreitamento das opções diagnósticas.