Histopathologic spectrum of AIDS-associated lesions in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.

The histopathological alterations in various organs and the presence of AIDS-associated lesions were studied in 86 biopsy and 29 necropsy specimens of AIDS patients. The most common cancer seen in this study were malignant lymphomas (4% of cases) with development of extensive extranodal lymphomatous involvement from the outset. Although a preponderance of high grade B-cell pathologic subtypes is found in AIDS-associated lymphoma, we also report the first case of T-lymphoblastic lymphoma with a picture of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Tuberculosis (34% of cases) was the most common opportunistic infection presented in tissue sections, and the majority of tissue biopsies revealed poorly organized granulomas and extensive necrosis with numerous bacilli. Penicilliosis (20% of cases) appeared to be the most common cutaneous lesion with multiple organ involvement. The involved organs showed a partially anergic tissue reaction characterized by poorly formed granulomas with diffuse infiltrate of fungi-laden macrophages and lymphoid cell depletion. This organism has to be distinguished from Histoplasma capsulatum and other yeast-form fungi. Co-existing cytomegalovirus and P. carinii infections were the predominant findings in lung necropsy specimens from pediatric patients who died from AIDS. A major pathologic feature in this group was diffuse alveolar damage stage II to III with heavy loads of organism and extensive lymphoplasmacytic infiltration.

Opportunistic lung affection with pneumocystis carinii following radiotherapy after radical mastectomy

Thirty eight female patients having chest troubles with low grade fever and receiving external radiotherapy to the chest wall after wound healing of radical mastectomy operation were studied. Further thirty patients with radical mastectomy and having chest troubles before treatment served as control group. Both groups were evaluated clinically together with analysis of laboratory and radiological results of investigations. Sputum examination for pneumocystis carini [P.C.] was done. Results of sputum examination revealed 3 patients [7.9%] having P.C. Sputum examination can be considered as a useful non-invasive test for diagnosis of infection with P.C. organisms and allowing early diagnosis of patients in whom bronchoscopy can not be done which require special skill and equipments. This study showed that P.C. is opportunistic infection in patients treated with radiotherapy especially those with chest troubles and give suspicious symptoms which help in early diagnosis and proper treatment

Neumocistosis

La neumocistosis se ha convertido en poco tiempo en una entidad clínica de gran importancia principalmente como consecuencia de la aparición del Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia adquirida, situación en la cual se comporta como una de las infecciones oportunistas más frecuentes. Debido a que era una entidad poco frecuente, el personal de la salud no está muy familiarizado con la misma y dado que tiene una tendencia hacia el aumento constante, se hace necesario que todo el equipo de salud tenga un nivel de conocimiento adecuado de la enfermedad. Se presenta una revisión actualizada del tema basada en las publicaciones más recientes y puesta en términos muy precisos y prácticos para que pueda ser de utilidad general