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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Bacterial pneumonia CT

Introduction

Overview

Although CT scans are not a primary modality of testing for bacterial pneumonia, they may be utilized in complex cases where the underlying cause is unknown[1] and/or when empiric antibiotic use yields no symptomatic relief in the patient. CT scans may be very informative and assist in differentiating infectious and noninfectious pneumonia.[2] Similar to chest x-rays, CT findings can also be described according to the type of pneumonia including lobar or focal nonsegmental pneumonia, lobular or multifocal bronchopneumonia, and diffuse or interstitial (atypical) pneumonia.

CT Scan

Type of Pneumonia Common Organisms CT Scan Findings
Lobar/ Focal non-segmental[3] Klebsiella pneumoniae

Legionella pneumophila

Haemophilus influenzae

Lobar pneumonia – Case courtesy of Dr Chris O’Donnell
Pneumococcal Pneumonia (complication: parapneumonic effusion) – Case courtesy of Dr Henry Knipe
Lobular/ Multifocal Bronchopneumonia[4] Staphylococcus aureus

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Haemophilus influenzae

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Escherichia coli

Bronchopneumonia CT – Case courtesy of Dr Ayush Goel
Bronchopneumonia CT (Tree in Bud) – Case courtesy of The Radswiki
Bronchopneumonia CT (Tree in Bud: Enhanced) – Case courtesy of The Radswiki
Diffuse/ Interstitial (Atypical)[5] Mycoplasma

Chlamydophila pneumoniae

Chlamydophila psittaci

Legionella

Atypical pneumonia – Case courtesy of Dr Mostafa El-Feky
  • Focal ground glass opacity appearance (in a centrilobular pattern)
  • Diffuse and bilateral (in most cases)
  • Bronchial wall thickening
  • Segmental atelectasis from small airway obstruction may occur
  • Radiological findings are often more pronounced than the patients appearance
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae: airspace consolidation
  • Legionella pneumophila: residual scarring may persist

References

  1. ↑ “StatPearls”. 2021. PMID 30020693.
  2. ↑ Murata K, Takahashi M, Furukawa A, Itoh R, Yamasaki M, Sho K; et al. (1999). “[CT findings of pulmonary infections]”. Nihon Igaku Hoshasen Gakkai Zasshi. 59 (8): 371–9. PMID 10459281.
  3. ↑ https://radiopaedia.org/articles/lobar-pneumonia. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ https://radiopaedia.org/articles/bronchopneumonia?lang=us. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ https://radiopaedia.org/articles/atypical-pneumonia?lang=us. Missing or empty |title= (help)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Arooj Naz, M.B.B.S