Tuberculous Pneumonia: CT Findings in 20 Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate CT findings of tuberculous pneumonia mainly presenting as parenchymal consolidation. MATERIALS & METHODS: CT scans of twenty patients with tuberculous pneumonia were retrospectively reviewed. Analyses included the location, extent, and homogeneity of consolidation, presence of volume loss of involved lung and air-bronchogram, associated lesions suggesting previous tuberculous infection and evidence of bronchogenic spread. RESULTS: The location of consolidation revealed relatively even distribution without any specific predilection site. The areas of consolidation were irregular in margin (95%), inhomogeneous in attenuation (75%) including focal areas of low attenuation and multiple cavities within it. Volume loss (70%) of the involved lobe was associated. There were lesions suggesting previous tuberculous infection (95%) in the surrounding area and evidences of bronchogenic spread (100%) such as poorly-defined nodules and Iobular consolidations in the remote site from main consolidation. CONCLUSION: In tuberculous pneumonia, the areas of consolidation are irregular in margin and inhomogeneous in attenuation on CT scan. The evidences of bronchogenic spread and lesions suggesting previous tuberculous infection are almost always associated in the surrounding or remote site from main consolidation.