X-ray and CT appearance of pulmonary nontuberculosis mycobacterial infection / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the ches t X-ray and CT appearance of pulmonary nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTMB) Methods The chest X-ray findings of 22 cases with cultures positive for pulmonary nontuberculosis mycobacteria were reviewed, 10 cases had CT scans simultaneously All abnormalities and predominant lobar involvement were recorded The findings of chest X-ray and CT were compared Results The chest X-ray showed that air space consolidation ( n =19) and cavities ( n =18) were most frequently seen, nodules ( n =12) and linear disease ( n =14) were observed too The abnormalities involved bilateral multiple lobes, the right lung was more frequently involved than left, and upper lobe was involved more than lower ones Multiple manifestations were often co-existing ( n =19) On CT scans, nodule was the most frequent finding ( n =10), air space consolidation ( n =8) and cavity ( n =8) were other common findings In addition, bronchiectasis ( n =5), “tree in bud” sign ( n =3), and mediastinal lymphadenopathy ( n =2) were also seen on CT but not on chest X-ray Conclusion Air space consolidation, cavity, nodule, fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and “tree in bud” are major abnormalities of chest image The image abnormalities of pulmonary NTMB are indistinguishable from those of secondary pulmonary TB Multiple co-existing manifestations may be the characteristic findings of pulmonary NTMB infection