A10 (20) Part 1 Radiographic and CT Features of Viral Pneumonia
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Radiography Activity for 2020 Activity No: A10 (20) 2023 Topic Viral Pneumonia Article Radiographic and CT Features of Viral Pneumonia Speciality Diagnostic / Medical Technician Part 1 Approved for THREE (3) Clinical Continuing Educational Units (CEU’s) Part 2 Approved for THREE (3) Clinical Continuing Educational Units (CEU’s) This copy is for personal use only. To order printed copies, contact [email protected] 719 CHEST IMAGING Radiographic and CT Features of Viral Pneumonia1 Hyun Jung Koo, MD, PhD Soyeoun Lim, MD Viruses are the most common causes of respiratory infection. The Jooae Choe, MD imaging findings of viral pneumonia are diverse and overlap with Sang-Ho Choi, MD, PhD those of other nonviral infectious and inflammatory conditions. Heungsup Sung, MD However, identification of the underlying viral pathogens may not Kyung-Hyun Do, MD, PhD always be easy. There are a number of indicators for identifying viral pathogens on the basis of imaging patterns, which are associated Abbreviations: CMV = cytomegalovirus, GGO = with the pathogenesis of viral infections. Viruses in the same viral ground-glass opacity, HMPV = human meta- family share a similar pathogenesis of pneumonia, and the imaging pneumovirus, HPIV = human parainfluenza virus, HSV = herpes simplex virus, MERS = patterns have distinguishable characteristics. Although not all cases Middle East respiratory syndrome, RSV = re- manifest with typical patterns, most typical imaging patterns of viral spiratory syncytial virus, SARS = severe acute respiratory syndrome pneumonia can be classified according to viral families. Although a definite diagnosis cannot be achieved on the basis of imaging RadioGraphics 2018; 38:719–739 features alone, recognition of viral pneumonia patterns may aid in https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2018170048 differentiating viral pathogens, thus reducing the use of antibiotics. Content Codes: Recently, new viruses associated with recent outbreaks including 1From the Department of Radiology and Re- human metapneumovirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coro- search Institute of Radiology (H.J.K., J.C., navirus, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus have K.H.D.), Division of Infectious Disease, Depart- ment of Internal Medicine (S.H.C.), and De- been discovered. The imaging findings of these emerging pathogens partment of Laboratory Medicine (H.S.), Asan have been described in a few recent studies. This review focuses Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of on the radiographic and computed tomographic patterns of viral Medicine, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, 05505 Seoul, South Korea; and Department of Radiol- pneumonia caused by different pathogens, including new patho- ogy, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan University gens. Clinical characteristics that could affect imaging, such as College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea (S.L.). Presented as an education exhibit at the 2016 patient age and immune status, seasonal variation and community RSNA Annual Meeting. Received March 11, outbreaks, and pathogenesis, are also discussed. The first goal of 2017; revision requested May 18 and received this review is to indicate that there are imaging features that should August 6; accepted August 11. For this journal- based SA-CME activity, the authors, editor, and raise the possibility of viral infections. Second, to help radiologists reviewers have disclosed no relevant relation- differentiate viral infections, viruses in the same viridae that have ships. Address correspondence to K.H.D. (e- mail: [email protected]). similar pathogenesis and can have similar imaging characteristics are shown. By considering both the clinical and radiologic charac- ©RSNA, 2018 teristics, radiologists can suggest the diagnosis of viral pneumonia. SA-CME LEARNING OBJECTIVES ©RSNA, 2018 • radiographics.rsna.org After completing this journal-based SA-CME activity, participants will be able to: ■■Identify radiographic and characteristic CT patterns of viral pneumonia accord- Introduction ing to pathogen. Viruses are the most common causes of acute respiratory infections, ■■Review new viruses including HMPV, and causative agents of lower respiratory tract infection vary accord- SARS coronavirus, MERS coronavirus, ing to patient age and immunity (Table 1). Computed tomographic and H1N1 virus. (CT) findings of viral pneumonia are diverse and may be affected by ■■Discuss the clinical characteristics of the immune status of the host and the underlying pathophysiology viral pneumonia such as patient age and immune status, seasonal variation, and of the viral pathogen. Moreover, coinfection with bacteria is com- community outbreak periods. mon. In a previous study, Pavia (1) suggested that biphasic patterned See www.rsna.org/education/search/RG. illness, consolidation on chest radiographs, and high inflammation markers may increase the likelihood of bacterial coinfection (1). The clinical and CT findings of numerous respiratory viral patho- An earlier incorrect version of gens such as influenza, human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), respira- this article appeared online. tory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, and adenovirus have been This article was corrected on described (1,2). RSV shows an airway-centric pattern of disease with September 10, 2018. 720 May-June 2018 radiographics.rsna.org ing newly identified viral organisms, and discuss TEACHING POINTS clinical characteristics such as age, immune sta- ■■ Adenovirus pneumonia shows bilateral multifocal GGO with tus, seasonal variation in incidence, and commu- patchy consolidations on CT images and may show lobar or nity outbreak periods of specific infections. segmental distribution indicative of bronchopneumonia that resembles bacterial pneumonia. ■■ At CT, HPIV pneumonia shows multifocal patchy consolida- Pathogenesis of Viral Pneumonia tion with GGO that hinders differentiation of viral from bac- CT patterns of viral pneumonia are related to the terial pneumonia, and approximately one-fourth of patients pathogenesis of pulmonary viral infection (Table show centrilobular nodules with bronchial wall thickening. 2). Although not all cases demonstrate typical ■■ Radiographs in patients with HMPV pneumonia show mul- imaging patterns, most viral pneumonia patterns tilobar infiltrations. CT findings in immunocompetent pa- exhibit similarity on the basis of viridae (Fig 1). tients with HMPV pneumonia have not been described yet; For example, RSV and HPIV replicate in the na- however, bilateral ill-defined centrilobular nodules, branching centrilobular nodules, and GGO are noted in patients with sopharyngeal epithelium, spread to the lungs, and hematologic malignancy. induce bronchiolitis with sloughing of epithelial ■■ Radiographs in patients with influenza pneumonia show bi- cells of the small airways (6). HMPV also infects lateral reticulonodular areas of opacity with or without focal the lung epithelium and induces an inflammatory areas of consolidation, usually in the lower lobes. Poorly de- cascade (7). The CT findings of RSV pneumonia, fined patchy or nodular areas of consolidation that become HPIV pneumonia, and HMPV pneumonia are rapidly confluent and represent either diffuse alveolar damage or superinfection are seen frequently and resolve in 3 weeks. similar. The viruses usually appear as multifocal patchy consolidation with GGO, and centrilobu- ■■ MERS pneumonia appears on CT images as subpleural and basilar airspace lesions, with extensive GGO and consolida- lar nodules with bronchial wall thickening are tion. Cavitation is uncommon. also noticed. Influenza virus diffusely invades the respiratory epithelium, resulting in necrotizing bronchitis and diffuse alveolar damage, which manifest as consolidation (8). Adenovirus affects “tree-in-bud” opacity and bronchial wall thicken- the terminal bronchioles and causes bronchiol- ing. Adenovirus appears as multifocal consolida- itis, which may be accompanied by necrotizing tion or ground-glass opacity (GGO), and GGO bronchopneumonia. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) was more frequently noticed in patients with has cytopathic effects in both the airways and adenovirus pneumonia than in those with other alveoli; these manifest as a multifocal scattered viral infections or bacterial infections. A diffuse airspace pattern of opacity and predominant airspace pattern was seen more frequently in areas of peribronchial consolidation. Intranuclear patients with bacterial infections. On the basis inclusions can be observed in lung biopsy tissue of the imaging patterns of pneumonia, we can or at cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar suggest a differential diagnosis of the pathogen lavage fluid. In a patient with HSV pneumonia during early stages of the infection. Diagnostic who underwent open lung biopsy, areas of GGO tests including radiologic studies and blood or on CT images corresponded to pathologic diffuse serologic tests that could help establish the cause alveolar damage (9). The presence of mono- of pneumonia would reduce the use of antibiot- nuclear or multinuclear epithelial cells containing ics and may improve the clinical course. More- an intranuclear inclusion suggests the diagnosis over, rapid diagnosis can lead to early control of of HSV pneumonia. Similarly, cytomegalovirus potential transmission, thus decreasing overall (CMV) exhibits acute interstitial pneumonia with treatment costs. diffuse alveolar edema with fibrinous exudate. With the recent advancement in molecular Multifocal nodular infiltration represents infected biology and the ability to amplify multiple