RESUMO
Objectives To discuss the CT features of primary tuberculosis in adults Methods CT images of 39 adult patients with primary tuberculosis were retrospectively analyzed and 30 cases were also examined after injection of contrast materials Results 39 patients had both mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis and parenchymal infiltration There were 25 cases (64 1%) with primary lesions involving the right lung and 14 cases (35 9%) in left side 28 cases(71 8%) appeared as patchy shadows,nodules,and lobular consolidation; 11 cases (28 2%) were with segmental or lobar consolidation In 30 cases with contrast enhanced CT,the mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis appeared as homogenous enhancement in 10 cases, irregular enhancement in 18 cases,central low attenuation and peripheral rim enhancement in 20 cases 14 cases showed that the nodes were confluenced with inhomogenous enhancement There were 26 cases with acute bronchogenic spread tuberculosis Conclusion The parenchymal infiltration and mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis are the basic features in adult primary tuberculosis Acute bronchogenic spread into other fields and the features of node enhancement after injection of contrast materials are very important findings in the diagnosis of primary tuberculosis