RT Journal
A1 Schwarz E
T1 RAdiologic contributions to the diagnosis of histoplasmosis
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1959
FD August 29
VO 170
IS 18
SP 2171
OP 2174
DO 10.1001/jama.1959.03010180023008
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1959.03010180023008
AB A study was made of 74 pediatric patients selected because they had given negative tests with tuberculin but positive tests with histoplasmin. The purpose was to identify symptoms and findings useful in the diagnosis of histoplasmosis. In half of the children symptoms of acute respiratory infection were present. There were 12 children in whom the only symptoms of illness were gastrointestinal, consisting of nausea, vomiting, and, occasionally, abdominal pain. Chest roentgenograms showed hilar calcifications in 32 (50%) and perihilar lung infiltrates in 10 (15%) of 67 cases, but the patterns varied. Diagnosis is difficult because it may no longer be possible to isolate Histoplasma capsulatum from specimens taken five months after the infection and because five years or more may elapse before the chest roentgenograms become positive for calcification. In patients with positive reactions to histoplasmin and negative reactions to tuberculin, the presence of an isolated lung infiltrate or miliary involvement with hilar adenopathy should suggest a diagnosis of histoplasmosis.