Aftermath of pulmonary tuberculosis: computed tomography assessment

Abstract

PurposePulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) has clinically significant sequelae, even after recommended treatment completion. It is important to recognise these sequelae for accurate assessment of severity and treatment planning, if indicated.Material and methodsWe retrospectively analysed contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans of chest of 100 patients with previous history of treated pulmonary tuberculosis, excluding those with active pulmonary disease. CT findings were analysed based on parenchymal, airway, pleural, mediastinal, and vascular sequelae of PTB.ResultsParenchymal sequelae included fibrosis with architectural distortion and volume loss (90%), cavities (21%) (with aspergillomas noted in 19% of these cases), and tuberculomas (54%). Airway involvement was noted as bronchiectasis (77%) and bronchial stenosis (4%) but none with broncholithiasis. Mediastinal sequelae included lymph node calcification (74%), fibrosing mediastinitis (1%), and pericardial tuberculosis (2%). Pleural sequelae included pleural thickening (22%), with 40.9% of these patients showing calcifications, and one patient with chronic chylous pleural effusion. Vascular sequelae included Rasmussen aneurysms (4%), enlarged bronchial arteries (3%), and systemic bronchial collaterals in 1% of our patientsConclusionsPTB has multiple appalling sequelae, which require due attention and appropriate treatment in symptomatic cases. Radiological evaluation forms an integral part in patient assessment and decision making.

Diagnostic accuracy of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of chest in diagnosing sputum smear positive and sputum smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

“…Usually it is apparent as consolidation in starting phase. 24 In the present study, 66% of patients showed consolidation apart from other characterized appearance. The consolidation links with secondary bronchioles, which forms cavities that are responsible for spreading the disease towards lungs and other important organs of the body.…”

Post tuberculosis radiological sequelae in patients treated for pulmonary and pleural tuberculosis at a tertiary center in Pakistan

“…They categorized the sequelae into parenchymal, airway, pleural, mediastinal, and vascular subtypes. Fibrosis was seen as the most common sequelae in their cohort (11). Menon B et al has described the radiological sequelae in new cases of pulmonary, pleural and mediastinal tuberculosis after they completed their treatment.…”

Discovering common pathogenetic processes between COVID-19 and tuberculosis by bioinformatics and system biology approach

“…TB can affect individuals of all age groups and both sexes, with adult men constituting 56% of all TB cases (Chakaya et al, 2021). TB is a severe infectious pulmonary disorder, resulting in pulmonary consolidation, cavitary lesions, and bronchial wall thickening (Deshpande et al, 2020). Furthermore, COVID-19 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis face a higher risk of mortality due to compromised lung immunity in comparison to patients without tuberculosis (Aggarwal et al, 2021).…”