Anthrax CT: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 01:25, 17 July 2014

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]

Chest CT is able to identify the following changes in inhaled anthrax patients:

Mediastinal widening (common among patients who present at a hospital emergency department)
Hyperdense lymph nodes in the mediastinum, which represent haemorrhage and necrosis, following spore germination and vegetative growth with exotoxin elaboration.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==CT==
+Chest CT is able to identify the following changes in inhaled anthrax patients:
+* Mediastinal widening (common among patients who present at a hospital emergency department)
+* Hyperdense lymph nodes in the mediastinum, which represent haemorrhage and necrosis, following spore germination and vegetative growth with exotoxin elaboration.
-Recent findings using computerized tomography (CT) scans combined with autopsy observations have enhanced clinical interpretation of early inhalational anthrax evolution.
+* Edema of mediastinal fat
-The earliest detectable specific finding pointing to inhalational anthrax is mediastinal widening on posteroanterior (PA) chest X-rays. However, mediastinal widening is not a rare finding in a series of patients presenting at a hospital emergency department. Imaging in inhalational anthrax patients using a non-contrast spiral CT will reveal hyperdense lymph nodes in the mediastinum associated with edema of mediastinal fat. The hyperdensity of the lymph nodes represents haemorrhage and necrosis, following spore germination and vegetative growth with exotoxin elaboration.
-[[Image:Anthrax-01.png|thumb|left|250px|Posteroanterior chest x-ray taken 4 mo after onset of anthrax in a 46 yr. old male.<SMALL><SMALL>''Image provided by the CDC[http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp]''</SMALL></SMALL>]]
 ==References==