[Interstitial pneumonias in children with malignant diseases complicating intensive cytostatic therapy. Radiological appearance and histopathological findings (author's transl)].

The article reports radiological appearance and histopathological findings of interstitial pneumonias in 58 children with systemic malignancies under cytostatic treatment. The majority of cases suffered from acute lymphocytic leukemia, and at the time of pneumonia were in partial or complete remission. Eighteen children died of this radiological type of pneumonia. The autopsies of these cases revealed the presence of pneumocystis as the causative agent in 50% of the cases, also observed by other authors. It is concluded that the radiological appearance, as reported here is mostly due to pneumocystic pneumonias. It is therefore suggested that Pentamidine treatment should be given at an early stage. The cytostatic treatment should be discontinued till the pneumonia is completely cured.