HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-1 PNEUMONIA - PATTERNS ON CT SCANS AND CONVENTIONAL CHEST RADIOGRAPHS

Purpose: The goal of our study was to describe the herpes simplex viru s type 1 (HSV 1) pneumonia patterns on CT scans and chest radiographs. Method: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records and chest radiog raphs of 24 patients with HSV 1 pneumonia and 10 with pneumonia from c ombined HSV and mixed flora infection. We also reviewed CT scans avail able for eight patients with HSV pneumonia and four with mixed pneumon ia. Results: CT scans of eight patients with HSV pneumonia demonstrate d multifocal segmental and subsegmental ground-glass opacities (n = 8) , additional focal areas of consolidation (n = 6), scattered distribut ion (n = 6), and pleural effusions (n = 7). Chest radiographs (23 pati ents) showed patchy segmental and subsegmental ground-glass opacities and consolidation (n = 23), scattered distribution (n = 20), and pleur al effusions (n = 12). Radiographic patterns for isolated HSV pneumoni a and mixed flora pneumonia were not significantly different. Conclusi on: With a growing population of at-risk immunosuppressed patients, it is important to recognize CT and chest radiography patterns consisten t with, although nonspecific for, HSV 1 pneumonia.