Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia: CT features in 16 patients

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the computed tomography (CT) features of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. We retrospectively reviewed CT findings of 16 patients (M:F = 9:7, age range 1-74 years, median 9 years) with serologically proven Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and with chest CT scan available. Two distinctive patterns of CT features of M. pneumoniae pneumonia were noted between the paediatric (age < 18 years) and the adult (age > or = 18 years) groups. The pediatric group (n=11) showed lobar or segmental consolidation (100%) with frequent pleural effusion (82%) and regional lymphadenopathy (82%) and mild volume decrease of the involved lobe (73%), while four of the five adult patients showed diffuse and/or multifocal, centrilobular or peribronchovascular areas of ground-glass attenuation (80%) with a lobular distribution, and frequent thickening of interlobular septa (60%) and the bronchial walls (40%) were also detected at high-resolution CT. The CT finding of a lobar or segmental consolidation with a parapneumonic effusion seen in our children with M. pneumoniae pneumonia was similar to that of bacterial lobar pneumonia. In contrast, the CT findings noted in our adult patients consisted of a mixture of a bacterial bronchopneumonia pattern and a viral interstitial pneumonia pattern.

Novel aspects on the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and therapeutic implications

“…A wide spectrum of findings on thin-section CT have been reported, such as ground glass opacities (GGO), consolidation, bronchial wall thickening, centrilobular nodules, interlobular septal thickening, pleural effusion, mosaic attenuation, air trapping, and lymphadenopathy (Kim et al, 2000; Reittner et al, 2000; Chiu et al, 2006; Lee et al, 2006; Miyashita et al, 2009). Each of those radiological findings are non-specific, but Miyashita et al reported that bronchial wall thickening and centrilobular nodules on thoracic CT would be a clue to the diagnosis (Miyashita et al, 2009).…”

Radiographic Features of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia: Differential Diagnosis and Performance Timing

“…However, using this system there are still many cases where the guidelines cannot differentiate between M. pneumoniae pneumonia and S. pneumoniae pneumonia, and the JRS guidelines are seeking new specific parameters in order to improve this scoring system [4]. Some reports have focused on radiographic features using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of M. pneumoniae pneumonia [11][12][13][14][15]. However, to our knowledge, there have been relatively few comparative studies that have investigated the radiographic findings of M. pneumoniae pneumonia versus S. pneumoniae pneumonia.…”

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in hospitalized adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia in China

“…More importantly, radiographic evaluation prior to laboratory investigation, such as sputum smear, culture, PCR, serology, etc., would prove to be a very valuable method in diagnosing M. pneumoniae infection in CAP patients if the unique features of M. pneumoniae-associated CAP are identified and characterized. Several studies [1,3,7] reported on the radiographic features, including computed tomography (CT); however, there is little information on the clinical and radiographic features in Chinese CAP patients with M. pneumoniae infection. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the prevalence, clinical and radiological features, and antibiotic response of M. pneumoniae infection in hospitalized adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia in China.…”