Pediatric Mycoplasma Pneumonia: The Radiographic Patterns and Review of the Literature.

Purpose: The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the clinical and chest radiographic features of pediatric patients with serologically proven Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Materials and methods: The clinical records and chest radiographs of 55 consecutive patients (28 male, 27 female) with serologically positive IgG mycoplasma pneumonia were reviewed. The pneumonic infiltrates were described on chest radiography into 3 different patterns as a peribronchovascular infiltration, reticulonodular infiltration and consolidation.

Results: More than 91% of patients presented with cough and 70% of patients had fever. Chest radiographs displayed three different patterns: (i) peribronchovascular infiltration (n=33, 60%); (ii) reticulonodular infiltration (n=12, 22%); (iii) consolidation (n=10, 18%). Bilateral peribronchovascular infiltration in central and middle lung zones were frequently seen (n=33, 60%). Other radiological features were unilateral lesions in 51% of patients, pleural effusion in 18%, and hilar lymphadenopathy in 20%.

Conclusion: There are various radiological features of mycoplasma pneumonia in children. Bilateral peribronchovascular infiltration confined to central and middle lung regions seems to be more closely associated with mycoplasma infection.