Analysis of CT features of early asymptomatic active pulmonary tuberculosis in adolescence / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the CT features in the early stage of asymptomatic active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)in adolescence after PTB outbreak.Methods After PTB outbreak in a boarding school of a certain county in northern Jiangsu province,the clinical data, X-ray and CT findings of 47 cases with active PTB were analyzed retrospectively and compared with CT findings after treatment.Results In 47 cases,the incidence of male was higher than that of female,and 27 cases were negative on chest X-ray.The difference of X-ray and CT detection rate in the early stage of active PTB was statistically significant (P<0.001).Of 47 cases,46 patients had pulmonary parenchymal lesions and 1 had pleural effusion on CT.The lesions were found on 58 lobes and 60 lung segments,and 35 cases demonstrate lesions on the upper lobes,22 cases on the lower lobes,1 case on the middle lobe.CT images showed tree-in-bud opacities (68.1%),micronodules (89.4%) and consolidation (21.3%).All of patients got better after antituberculous therapy.Conclusion Active PTB should be considered first when CT scan shows micronodules or tree-in-bud signs in adolescences with PTB exposure.