CT findings in fungal opportunistic pneumonias: body and brain involvement.

A population of 28 immunocompromised hosts with proved pulmonary infections by Candida species (n = 18) or angioinvasive fungal pneumonias (Aspergillus species, n = 7, Mucor species n = 2, Trichosporon capitatum n = 1) were retrospectively examined for any characteristic computed tomographic (CT) pattern. Chest CT examination in angioinvasive fungal pneumonias (AFP) showed in all cases nodules or mass-like infiltrates. The mass/nodules were surrounded by a halo of low attenuation in early scans (n = 3/10) and showed often a peripheral enhancement in 6/8 contrast-enhanced scans. CT abnormalities in AFP were confined to the chest. Of the 18 patients with Candida pneumonias, 6 showed a mixed air space-interstitial pattern, 4 a granular pattern, 6 some type of mass-like consolidation, without neither perifocal halo nor postcontrast enhancement. In two autoptically proved cases, both chest plain film and CT scans were normal (false negatives). In CT body examinations, were found in 6 cases, other sites of organ involvement by Candida species (of brain in 1/6).