Epidemiological profile and follow-up of patients with pulmonary disease by non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Baixada Santista area, São Paulo

ABSTRACT Objective To present the frequency and species diversity of non-tuberculous mycobacteria, estimate the prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease, describe the epidemiological profile, and determine the follow-up of patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease living in a region with a high burden of tuberculosis. Methods This a retrospective cohort observational study using data records obtained from the Instituto Adolfo Lutz - Santos and from the São Paulo Sistema de Vigilância de Tuberculose do Estado de São Paulo in the period between 2000 and 2009. The studied variables were: socio-demographic characteristics, current and past history of tuberculosis, aspects related to diagnosis, and treatment and associated diseases. Results We included 319 non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolates in the study, corresponding to 257 patients. The species Mycobacterium kansasii (28.5%) and Mycobacterium fortuitum (16.6%) presented the higher occurrence. In 10.9% (24) of the patients, there was a criterion for confirming a case of pulmonary disease due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria. In relation to gender and age, male and individuals over 50 years old were the most frequent. Considering the confirmed cases, 47.8% had a past history of tuberculosis. Conclusion The lack of information about the cases is evident, since pulmonary disease due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria is not mandatory. The therapeutic regimen according to the identified species is fundamental for success in combating the infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Besides that, information about the regional epidemiology of pulmonary disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria and the search for associations with other comorbidities are important to establish the correct treatment. In order to improve surveillance of pulmonary diseases by non-tuberculous mycobacteria, we suggest the implantation of a sentinel surveillance and of population-based studies.

Multiple cavitary lung lesions on CT: imaging findings to differentiate between malignant and benign etiologies / Lesões escavadas pulmonares múltiplas em TC: achados de imagem para diferenciação entre etiologia maligna e benigna

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the CT findings of multiple cavitary lung lesions that allow the differentiation between benign and malignant etiologies. Methods: We reviewed CT scans, including patients with two or more cavitary lung lesions. We evaluated the number of cavitary lesions, their location, cavity wall thickness, and additional findings, correlating the variables with the diagnosis of a benign or malignant lesion. Results: We reviewed the chest CT scans of 102 patients, 58 (56.9%) of whom were male. The average age was 50.5 ± 18.0 years. Benign and malignant lesions were diagnosed in 74 (72.6%) and 28 (27.4%) of the patients, respectively. On the CT scans, the mean number of cavities was 3, the mean wall thickness of the largest lesions was 6.0 mm, and the mean diameter of the largest lesions was 27.0 mm. The lesions were predominantly in the upper lobes, especially on the right (in 43.1%). In our comparison of the variables studied, a diagnosis of malignancy was not found to correlate significantly with the wall thickness of the largest cavity, lymph node enlargement, emphysema, consolidation, bronchiectasis, or bronchial obstruction. The presence of centrilobular nodules correlated significantly with the absence of malignant disease (p < 0.05). In contrast, a greater number of cavities correlated significantly with malignancy (p < 0.026). Conclusions: A larger number of cavitary lung lesions and the absence of centrilobular nodules may be characteristic of a malignant etiology. However, on the basis of our evaluation of the lesions in our sample, we cannot state that wall thickness is a good indicator of a benign or malignant etiology.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar os achados tomográficos de lesões escavadas pulmonares múltiplas que contribuem para a diferenciação entre etiologia benigna e maligna. Métodos: Foram revisados exames de TC, sendo incluídos pacientes com duas ou mais lesões pulmonares escavadas. Avaliaram-se a quantidade de lesões escavadas, sua localização, espessura parietal das lesões e achados adicionais, correlacionando as variáveis com a presença de diagnóstico de benignidade ou de malignidade. Resultados: Foram revisadas TCs de tórax de 102 pacientes, sendo 58 (56,9%) desses do sexo masculino. A média de idade foi de 50,5 ± 18,0 anos. Lesões benignas e malignas foram diagnosticadas em 74 pacientes (72,6%) e em 28 (27,4%), respectivamente. Quanto aos achados tomográficos, a média do número de cavidades foi 3, a da espessura média da parede da maior lesão foi de 6,0 mm, e a do diâmetro da maior lesão foi de 27,0 mm. Houve predomínio das lesões em lobos superiores, especialmente no direito (43,1%). Após a comparação das variáveis estudadas, a espessura parietal da maior escavação, assim como a presença de linfonodomegalia, enfisema, consolidação, bronquiectasias e obstrução brônquica, não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas para o diagnóstico de malignidade. A presença de nódulos centrolobulares correlacionou-se significativamente com a ausência de doença maligna (p < 0,05). Observou-se também que um número maior de cavidades se correlacionou significativamente com malignidade (p < 0,026). Conclusões: Um maior número de lesões pulmonares escavadas e a ausência de nódulos centrolobulares podem ser características relacionadas à etiologia maligna. Por outro lado, a espessura parietal não permitiu a diferenciação entre etiologia benigna e maligna das lesões em nossa amostra.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Thorax / 결핵

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most advanced imaging techniques in clinical and research medicine. However, clinical application of MRI to the lung or thorax has been limited due to various drawbacks. Low signal intensity of the lung and cardiac and respiratory movements are the most serious problems with MRI in thorax. Nevertheless, MRI is superior to CT in some selected patients with thoracic diseases. The role of clinical MRI in thoracic disease has been widened with improvement of MR equipments and development of new pulse sequences. Otherwise, functional assessment of lung by MRI has been studied for the last decade. These include perfusion MRI with or without contrast enhancement and ventilation MRI with oxygen-enhancement or hyperpolarized noble gas, (3)He and (129)Xe.