Cutaneous tuberculosis: epidemiologic, etiopathogenic and clinical aspects - Part I

Cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB) is the result of a chronic infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. ovis and occasionally by the Calmette-Guerin bacillus. The clinical manifestations are variable and depend on the interaction of several factors including the site of infection and the host's immunity. This article revises the current knowledge about this disease's physiopathology and immunology as well as detailing the possible clinical presentations.

CT diagnosis of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenopathy in adults / 中华放射学杂志

To evaluate the features of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenopathy in adults on CT, especially on enhanced CT scan. Methods Seventeen patients with adult mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenopathy proved by operation, biopsy, and (or) anti tuberculous therapy were evaluated on chest film and CT scan, and 6 patients were performed with enhanced CT scan. Results The chest film finding was intrathoracic mass and (or) hilar mass only in 6 patients, but CT detected 37 enlarged nodes in all patients. Most of the enlarged nodes were located in 2R and (or) 4R (59.4%). 30 nodes (81 1%) presented as low density in the center of nodes, and there were marked enhancement at the periphery areas of the nodes after enhancement in all 6 patients (100 0%). Conclusion CT scan, especially the enhanced CT scan, is the first method of choice to diagnose the mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenopathy in adults.

Mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis in adults: constrast-enhanced CT features and pathologic findings / 中华放射学杂志

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the constrast-enhanced CT features and pathologic findings of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis in adults. Methods 39 patients with 180 lymph nodes diagnosed as mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis by operation, mediastinoscopy and biopsy were evaluated on enhanced CT scan, including 20 men and 19 women. The median age of the patients was 26 years(range from 16-67 years). Results Five post-contrast patterns of enhancement were found: (1) inhomogeneous enhancement(28.3%,51 nodes); (2) peripheral rim enhancement(26.1%, 47 nodes); (3) homogeneous enhancement(25.0%, 45 nodes); (4)nonenhancement( 14.4%, 26 nodes); (5) separate enhancement(6.11%, 11 nodes); CT-pathologic correlation demonstrated that patterns of enhancement of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis were correlated with distribution of granulation tissue and caseous areas. 28 patients(71.8%) had a combination of enhancement patterns. 11 patients(28.2%) had a single enhancement pattern. Conclusion Constrast-enhanced CT appearance of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis for diameter of 1.0-2.0 cm was homogeneous enhancement, nonenhancement, inhomogeneous enhancement and peripheral rim enhancement; for diameter of ≥2.0 cm was inhomogeneous enhancement, peripheral rim enhancement, homogeneous enhancement and nonenhancement. Peripheral rim enhancement or separate enhancement can suggest a diagnosis of tuberculosis.