Chest X‐Ray Changes in A.I.D.S.

SUMMARYPulmonary complications are common in A.I.D.S. patients, and Pneumocystis pneumonia is the most frequent. The typical pattern is a fine perihilar infiltrate going on to a more pronounced reticulonodular and sometimes to an alveolar filling pattern. This latter pattern may herald respiratory failure. Pneumocystis can cause other unusual patterns, especially when the infection is chronic or is modified by simultaneous infection by other organisms.Other bacterial pulmonary infections have an aggressive course. Tuberculosis, even with a second or subsequent infection, has the radiological changes of a primary infection.Malignancies are most commonly non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and Kaposi's Sarcoma. They have no characteristic appearances. The occurrence of hilar lymphadenopathy in A.I.D.S. patients without Kaposi's Sarcoma, non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, TB or Pneumocystis requires further investigation as nodes are not a feature of A.I.D.S. per se. Although occasionally seen with Pneumocystis pneumonia, lymphadenopathy is more normally seen with Kaposi's Sarcoma, non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma or tuberculosis.Because prompt and accurate treatment is essential in the immune compromised patient mana