PET scanning in sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder that most commonly presents with pulmonary involvement. The diagnosis is suggested on the basis of clinical and radiologic manifestations and is supported by the histological demonstration of noncaseating granulomas in affected tissues. Different imaging modalities, including chest radiography, X-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and (67) Ga scintigraphy are currently employed to help diagnose and help plan treatment strategy in sarcoidosis patients.

Disseminated pneumocystosis presenting as a pleural effusion.

Extrapulmonary pneumocystosis recently has been reported in a number of tissues. Most cases occurred in patients receiving aerosolized pentamidine prophylaxis. We report a case of disseminated pneumocystosis presenting as a large pleural effusion without apparent lung involvement where Pneumocystis carinii was the only pathogen identified.

Efficacy of ceftriaxone in serious bacterial infections.

Ceftriaxone is a new semisynthetic cephalosporin with broad-spectrum in vitro activity and an unusually long serum half-life. The clinical efficacy of ceftriaxone was evaluated in 35 infections in 34 patients; 12 of these patients had skin and soft tissue infections, 10 had infections of the urinary tract, 8 had pneumonia, 2 had biliary tract infections, 1 had sinusitis, 1 had diverticulitis, and 1 had a retroperitoneal abscess. Of the 35 infections, 9 were bacteremic.