High-resolution CT findings of pulmonary infections in patients with hematologic malignancy: comparison between patients with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Purpose To evaluate the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of pulmonary infections in patients with hematologic malignancy and compare them between patients with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Materials and methods A total of 128 patients with hematologic malignancy and pulmonary infection were included in this study. The diagnoses of the patients consisted of bacterial pneumonia (37 non-HSCT cases and 14 HSCT cases), pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) (29 non-HSCT cases and 11 HSCT cases), and fungal infection other than PCP (20 non-HSCT cases and 17 HSCT cases). Two chest radiologists retrospectively evaluated the HRCT criteria and compared them using chi-squared tests and a multiple logistic regression analysis. Results According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, nodules were an indicator in HSCT patients with PCP ( p = 0.025; odds ratio, 5.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–26.6). The centrilobular distribution of nodules was the most frequent ( n = 4, 36%) in HSCT patients with PCP. A mosaic pattern was an indicator of PCP in both HSCT and non-HSCT patients. There were no significant differences in other infections. Conclusion The mosaic pattern could be an indicator of PCP in both HSCT and non-HSCT patients. Nodules with centrilobular distribution might be relatively frequent HRCT findings of PCP in HSCT patients.