Faculty Bibliography

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a known complication of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. From a series of 61 patients with PCP, we identified two cases, not associated with aerosolized pentamidine, that presented with spontaneous pneumothorax and cystic changes seen on chest radiographs. Bronchoalveolar lavage cell findings were remarkable for very elevated neutrophil counts in both cases, suggesting a possible inflammatory cause for the observed cystic changes.

A 37-year-old woman had pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, and normal findings on chest roentgenogram. Lung scan showed markedly diminished perfusion to the right lung with a matched ventilatory defect. Further evaluation revealed a bronchogenic cyst. After resection, the lung scan was normal. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a bronchogenic cyst causing a reversible, unilateral ventilation-perfusion defect on lung scan.