Granulomatous Reaction to Pneumocystis jirovecii

Abstract

To better characterize the clinical and pathologic features of granulomatous reaction to Pneumocystis jirovecii, we reviewed 20 cases of this uncommon response. Patients included 15 males and 5 females (mean age 52 y). The most common symptom was dyspnea (5 of 14). Primary medical diagnoses included human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (7 of 20), hematopoietic (6 of 20), and solid malignancies (4 of 20). Radiology findings included nodular (8 of 16) and diffuse (5 of 16) infiltrates and solitary nodules (3 of 16). Diagnostic procedures with the highest yield were open lung biopsy (13 of 20) and autopsy (5 of 20); false-negative results were most common on bronchial washings/brushings, bronchoalveolar lavage, fine needle aspiration, and transbronchial biopsy. Follow-up showed resolution of disease (6 of 13), death from disease (6 of 13), and death from unknown cause (1 of 13). Histologically, clusters of Gomori methenamine silver-positive (20 of 20) Pneumocystis organisms were identified in all cases. Organisms were identified within well (16 of 20) and poorly (4 of 20) formed necrotizing (16 of 20) and non-necrotizing (4 of 20) granulomas ranging in size from 0.1 to 2.5 cm (mean 0.5 cm); granulomas were multiple (18 of 20) or single (2 of 20). Giant cells (11 of 20), a fibrous rim (8 of 20), and eosinophils (6 of 20) were seen. Foamy eosinophilic exudates were present centrally within some granulomas (5 of 20). Cystic spaces (1 of 20) and calcification (1 of 20) were rare. Only one case demonstrated classic intra-alveolar foamy exudates containing Pneumocystis. Granulomatous P. jirovecii pneumonia occurs most commonly in males with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, hematopoietic, and solid malignancies. The diagnosis may be overlooked as conventional radiologic and pathologic features are absent. When suspected, open lung biopsy is most likely to yield diagnostic material. Attention to organism morphology avoids misdiagnosis as Histoplasma.

Lesson of the month 1: Lobar pulmonary consolidation in an immunocompromised host

“…In contrast, Histoplasma has a smaller capsular dot and multiplies by budding. 5 When present, budding forms can suggest Histoplasma ; however, their absence does not exclude this possibility. 5 In this case, the yeasts did not show budding, a capsular dot or intracystic bodies.…”

“…5 When present, budding forms can suggest Histoplasma ; however, their absence does not exclude this possibility. 5 In this case, the yeasts did not show budding, a capsular dot or intracystic bodies. Although granulomatous inflammation is atypical for Pneumocystis , it has been reported in 4-5% of patients.…”

“…Although granulomatous inflammation is atypical for Pneumocystis , it has been reported in 4-5% of patients. 5 Unfortunately, the degenerative nature of yeast forms, and their sparse dispersion on a necrotic background, made definitive identification challenging on microscopy.…”

Granulomatous Reaction to <b><i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i></b> Diagnosed in a Bronchoalveolar Lavage: A Case Report

“…From the cases described by Hartel et al [7], the false-negative rate that we can calculate is at best as high as 35% in open lung biopsies. We present here a unique case of granulomatous P. jirovecii pneumonia diagnosed in a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), as well as the results of the less contributive clinical, radiological and histological investigations.…”

“…A review of the available literature points out that bronchoscopy with cytological analysis is commonly considered to be of very low diagnostic yield, if any, to detect P. jirovecii granulomas, whereas lung biopsy, either open or transbronchial, is widely regarded as the gold standard [1,3,4,7,8]. From the cases described by Hartel et al [7], the false-negative rate that we can calculate is at best as high as 35% in open lung biopsies.…”