抄録
Chest roentgenograms and laboratory findings of 50 patients with pneumonia admitted to our hospital within the past three years were reviewed. 20 of 50 cases were found in elderly patients over 65 years of age. Almost all pneumonia in elderly patients were bacterial, while most cases in younger patients were viral or myconlasmal in origin. In patients over 65 years of age, 13 of 20 patients had reticular-like shadows, with or without homogeneous and/or patchy consolidation. Most elderly patients with reticular-like consolidation had pneumonia caused by gram-negative bacilli, and had reduced FEV1.0% and increased RV/TLC% in lung function tests. We speculate two pathological changes for the appearance of the reticular-like shadows in chest roentgenograms, that is the dilated air spaces and reduced exudation around those regions.
Recognition of such reticular-like shadows in the chest roentgenograms is considered important to detect pneumonia in the elderly patients. On the other hand, reticular-like consolidation may indicate the possibility of emphysematous changes in pneumonia patients.
