Relapse ofPneumocystis carinii pneumonia intheupperlobes during aerosol pentamidine prophylaxis

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was diagnosed bybronchoalveolar lavage oftheupper lobes inapatient withtheacquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)receiving aerosol pentamidine prophylaxis. Serendipitous availability ofanormal premorbid lunggallium scanindicated that pneumocystosis had developed duringaerosol pentamidine prophylaxis; atthetime ofpresentation a repeat gallium scanindicated disease limited tothe upperlobes. Therelation ofthis unusual formof isolated upper lobe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia to aerosol pentamidine prophylaxis warrants further investigation.