CT characteristics of mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary diseases: Compared with mycobacterium kansasii, mycobacterium abscess/chelonei pulmonary diseases / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore CT characteristics of mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary diseases compared with mycobacterium kansasii, mycobacterium abscess/chelonei pulmonary diseases. Methods: CT images of 35 patients with mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary diseases, 18 with mycobacterium kansasii pulmonary disease and 22 with mycobacterium abscess/chelonei pulmonary disease confirmed by clinical data and laboratory tests were retrospectively analyzed, and imaging findings were evaluated and compared. Results: Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary disease involved both lungs (33/35, 94.29%), multiple lobes (18/35, 51.43%) or all lobes (16/35, 45.71%). CT characteristics included cord shadow (34/35, 97.14%), air space consolidation (33/35, 94.29%), centrilobular nodules or tree in bud (32/35, 91.43%), thickened pleura (32/35, 91.43%), ground glass opacity (31/35, 88.57%), traction bronchiectasis (30/35, 85.71%), non-traction bronchiectasis (25/35, 71.43%), nodes (24/35, 68.57%), calcification (24/35, 68.57%) and cavity (23/35, 65.71%). Ground glass opacity was more frequently observed in mycobacterium intracellulare than mycobacterium kansasii (P=0.001) and mycobacterium abscess/chelonei pulmonary disease (P<0.001). Walls of the cavity were thicker in mycobacterium intracellulare than mycobacterium kansasii (P=0.019) and mycobacterium abscess/chelonei pulmonary disease (P=0.024). Calcifications were more frequently observed in mycobacterium intracellulare than in mycobacterium kansasii (P=0.014) and mycobacterium abscess/chelonei pulmonary disease (P=0.007). Conclusion: Compared with mycobacterium kansasii and abscess/chelonei pulmonary disease, CT findings of mycobacterium intracellulare have certain characteristics, which may be helpful to differential diagnosis.