Aim: To determine the aetiology of isolated intrathoracic lymphadenopa
thy on chest radiographs of HIV-infected patients. Patients and Method
s: Over a 40 month span in 1990-1993, 18 HIV-infected patients (13 men
, 5 women) from our New York City adult HIV outpatient clinic developm
ent isolated intrathoracic lymphadenopathy (defined as intrathoracic n
odal enlargement without other persistent abnormalities on chest radio
graphs), Serial chest radiographs (n = 18), CT scans when available (n
= 7), and clinical charts (n = 18) were reviewed retrospectively. Res
ults: Median patient age was 34 (range 25-49) years. The diagnoses ass
ociated with adenopathy were Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in eight
(44%), Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex (MAC) in four (22%)
, and Mth and MAC co-infection in three (17%). Cryptococcal infection,
thymic hyperplasia, and spontaneous resolution without diagnosis or t
reatment occurred in one patient each. In 16 (89%) of the 18 patients,
lymphadenopathy was present in more than one nodal station. Enlarged
nodes were found in the following sites: paratracheal/tracheobronchial
(n = 14), aortopulmonary window (n = 9), hilar (n = 7), anterior medi
astinum (n = 3), subcarinal (n = 2), and left paraesophageal (n = 2).C
onclusion: Mycobacterial infection was the aetiology of isolated intra
thoracic lymphadenopathy in 15 of 18 (83%) HIV-infected patients. When
an inner city HIV-infected patient presents with isolated intrathorac
ic lymphadenopathy, we recommend an aggressive work-up for mycobacteri
al disease.