Concomitant COVID-19 and pulmonary tuberculosis: computed tomography aspects

Abstract

Objective: To describe the relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and pulmonary tuberculosis during the current pandemic, as well as to describe the main computed tomography (CT) findings in patients suffering from both diseases simultaneously. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study of the chest CT scans of 360 patients with COVID-19, as confirmed by RT-PCR. Results: In four (1.1%) of the patients, changes suggestive of COVID-19 and tuberculosis were observed on the initial CT scan of the chest. On chest CT scans performed for the follow-up of COVID-19, cavitary lesions with bronchogenic spread were observed in two of the four patients, whereas alterations consistent with the progression of fibrous scarring related to previous tuberculosis were observed in the two other patients. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by the isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Conclusion: Albeit rare, concomitant COVID-19 and tuberculosis can be suggested on the basis of the CT aspects. Radiologists should be aware of this possibility, because initial studies indicate that mortality rates are higher in patients suffering from both diseases simultaneously.

COVID-19 and pulmonary Tubercuiosis coinfection: three case reports from Iran

“…On imaging, chest CT scan demonstrate difference between pulmonarytuberculosis and COVID-19. Thick-walled cavitary lesions with pattern of tree-in-bud and consolidations,notabely in the upper lobes are suggestive for tuberculosis( 20 , 21 ) and adversely,multifocal peripheral ground-glass opacities especially in the lower lobes are diagnostic pattern for COVID-19( 21 , 22 ).…”