Pneumocystis cariniiin Hypopharyngeal Material

Abstract

RARELY has the clinical diagnosis of pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii been confirmed by ante-mortem demonstration of the organism in biologic material. It is therefore pertinent to report a case in which this organism was found in hypopharyngeal contents obtained before death. Since a number of case reports and reviews are available, a comprehensive survey will not be attempted.The clinical course combined with the so-called typical x-ray appearance of the chest is the usual means by which pneumocystis pneumonia has been suspected clinically. Few authors discuss the possibility of confirming the diagnosis by finding the organism in clinical material. . . .