Nonresolving pneumonia and mimics of pneumonia

Physicians caring for patients with community-acquired pneumonia are often faced with the dilemma of how to approach a patient with slowly resolving o r even nonresolving pneumonia. When the radiograph has failed to resolve by 50% in 2 weeks or completely in 4 weeks, the pneumonia should be considere d to be nonresolving or slowly resolving. The causes of a nonresolving pneu monia and an approach to the work-up are presented.