Role of contrast-enhanced dynamic CT in the diagnosis of active tuberculoma

Discriminating Small-Sized (2 cm or Less), Noncalcified, Solitary Pulmonary Tuberculoma and Solid Lung Adenocarcinoma in Tuberculosis-Endemic Areas

Background. Pulmonary tuberculoma can mimic lung malignancy and thereby pose a diagnostic dilemma to clinicians. The purpose of this study was to establish an accurate, convenient, and clinically practical model for distinguishing small-sized, noncalcified, solitary pulmonary tuberculoma from solid lung adenocarcinoma. Methods. Thirty-one patients with noncalcified, solitary tuberculoma and 30 patients with solid adenocarcinoma were enrolled. Clinical characteristics and CT morphological features of lesions were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify independent predictors of pulmonary tuberculoma and lung adenocarcinoma. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to investigate the discriminating efficacy. Results. The mean age of patients with tuberculoma and adenocarcinoma was 46.8 ± 12.3 years (range, 28–64) and 61.1 ± 9.9 years (range, 41–77), respectively. No significant differences were observed concerning smoking history and smoking index, underlying disease, or tumor markers between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed age and lobulation combined with pleural indentation demonstrated excellent discrimination. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and the area under the ROC curve were 87.1%, 93.3%, 90.2%, and 0.956 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.901–1.000), respectively. Conclusion. The combination of clinical characteristics and CT morphological features can be used to distinguish noncalcified, solitary tuberculoma from solid adenocarcinoma with high diagnostic performance and has a clinical application value.

Correlation between 18F-FDG PET CT SUV and symptomatic or asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the difference of 18F-FDG PET/CT images between the symptomatic and asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as the correlation between the standard uptake value (SUV) and the symptomatic/asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODS

A study dataset of 57 pulmonary tuberculosis cases was retrospectively assembled and analyzed. Among these cases, 30 were diagnosed having symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis and 27 were asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis. PET/CT was performed in all 57 cases. The clinical data, CT images and PET/CT radioactive uptake data were analyzed using statistical data analysis software.

RESULTS

All 57 cases showed radioactively high uptake, with the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of the lesion ranging from 1.60 to 27.30 and a mean value of 6.63±4.82. The symptomatic cases had an SUVmax of 8.76±4.97 and the asymptomatic cases had an SUVmax of 4.27±3.39. The SUVmax as well as singular or multiple lesions showed statistical differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases.

CONCLUSION

The symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis cases show significantly higher SUVmax than the asymptomatic cases. Based on the criteria of SUVmax greater than 2.0 to define active lesions, 100% of symptomatic cases might have active lesions while 70.4% of asymptomatic cases might have active lesions. Therefore, focused attention should be clinically paid on the asymptomatic cases of pulmonary tuberculosis to avoid miss diagnosis and delayed treatment.

Correlation of microbiological yield with radiographic activity on chest computed tomography in cases of suspected pulmonary tuberculosis

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the correlation between microbiological yield and radiographic activity, on chest computed tomography (CT), in suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases, despite CT being widely used, clinically.

METHODS

We used multicenter retrospective data, obtained from medical records, focusing on the diagnostic performance for definite PTB. We categorized patients into four groups, by radiographic activity: definitely active, probably active, indeterminate activity, and probably inactive.

RESULTS

Of the 650 patients included, 316 had culture-confirmed PTB; 190 (29.2%), 323 (49.7%), 70 (10.8%), and 67 (10.3%) were classified into the definitely active, probably active, indeterminate activity, and probably inactive groups, respectively. The corresponding observed culture rates for CT radiographic activity were 61.6%, 60.7%, 4.3% and 0%, respectively. When not only culture rates but TB-PCR and histological results were taken into consideration as definite PTB, it showed 66.6%, 67.2%, 14.3%, and 0% of each CT radiographic activity, respectively. Regarding the diagnostic performance for definite PTB, radiographic activity displayed high sensitivity (97.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI), 94.6-98.5) and negative predictive values (92.7%, 95% CI, 86.6-96.2), considered definitely and probably active PTB. Apart from PTB, other etiologies, according to radiographic activity, were predominantly respiratory infections such as bacterial pneumonia and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiographic activity showed good diagnostic performance, and can be used easily in clinical practice. However, clinicians should consider other possibilities, because radiologic images do not confirm microbiological PTB.

Recent advances in the management of pulmonary tuberculoma with focus on the use of tubeless video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Pulmonary tuberculoma are benign solitary pulmonary nodules representing up to 25% of all resected solitary pulmonary nodules. However, the differentiation between pulmonary tuberculoma and lung cancer, as well as between active tuberculoma and inactive tuberculoma remains a clinical challenge. The present review summarizes the recent advances in the management of pulmonary tuberculoma, including radiological findings, the response to anti-tuberculosis treatment and surgical treatments. Application of the novel tubeless video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) technique in both the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculoma has been found to be safe and feasible and leads to less surgical trauma, which results in reduced length of hospitalization and better post-operative quality of life.

Imaging Manifestations of Thoracic Tuberculosis

Despite significant improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis achieved during the last 3 decades, tuberculosis still remains one of the deadliest communicable diseases worldwide. Tuberculosis is still present in all regions of the world, with a more significant impact in developing countries. This article reviews the most common imaging manifestations of primary and postprimary tuberculosis, their complications, and the critical role of imaging in the diagnosis and follow-up of affected patients.

CT Perfusion Dynamics of Intracranial Tuberculomas

AIMS

To study perfusion characteristics of intracranial tuberculomas and analyze changes with anti tubercular treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nineteen patients of histologically proven intracranial tuberculomas were included in the study of which 9 were not on antitubercular treatment and ten were on antitubercular treatment (6 patients on treatment for less than 2 months and 4 were more than 6 months). All patients underwent CT perfusion (CTP) and CTP parameters like rCBV and rCBF were obtained from entire lesion, center and capsule of lesions and compared.

RESULTS

CTP parameters like rCBF and rCBV were significantly low in all the three ROIs in the group not on treatment compared to that of on treatment ; rCBF and rCBV of entire lesion (p=0.018 and p=0.005 respectively), capsule (p=0.045 and p=0.010 respectively) and center of the lesion (p=0.020 and p=0.009) respectively). Tuberculomas on antitubercular treatment of more than six months showed reduced rCBF and rCBV in entire lesion (p=0.01 & p=0.01 respectively), capsule (p=0.04 & p=0.03 respectively) and center (p=0.08 & p=0.05 respectively) compared to those on treatment for less than two months. Similarly tuberculomas on treatment for six months did not show significant difference in rCBF and rCBV compared to tuberculomas who were not on treatment. Tuberculomas on treatment for less than two months showed statistically increased rCBF and rCBV in entire lesion (p=0.01 & p=0.04 respectively), capsule (p=0.03 & p=0.01 respectively) and center (p= 0.03 &=0.01) compared to those not on treatment.

CONCLUSION

Intracranial tuberculomas not on treatment and those on treatment for around six months show low perfusion and tuberculomas on treatment for less than two months show high perfusion. These findings suggest that serial perfusion profiles of tuberculomas on treatment could possibly be seen as surrogate markers of response to treatment.

Active tuberculosis in surgical patients with negative preoperative sputum smear results

OBJECTIVE

To determine the proportion of negative preoperative sputum smear results among patients presenting active TB, as identified through the evaluation of surgical samples.

METHODS

A retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery between 2003 and 2006 at a university hospital and receiving a histopathological diagnosis of active or latent TB. We reviewed patient histories, TB-related clinical aspects, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) test results, type of surgery performed and histopathological findings in surgical samples.

RESULTS

We included 43 patients, 27 of whom were male. The mean age was 44 + or - 19 years. Twenty-eight patients had a history of TB (treated appropriately), and 15 reported no history of the disease. The main reason for seeking treatment was recurrent infection, followed by alterations seen in imaging studies. Of the 43 patients, 35 underwent preoperative AFB testing: 32 tested negative, and 3 tested positive. Among those 35 patients, the histopathological diagnosis was active TB in 26 and latent TB in 9. The 8 patients not submitted to preoperative AFB testing were also diagnosed with latent TB. The proportion of active TB in patients with negative sputum smear results was 72% (23/32), whereas that of negative sputum smear results in patients with active TB was 88% (23/26). Only 11.5% (3/26) of the patients had tested positive for AFB.

CONCLUSIONS

Direct sputum smear microscopy has a very low yield. Many previously treated patients can present negative sputum smear results and yet have active TB. Active TB can be mistaken for secondary infections or for cancer.

Value of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculoma: 53 cases analysis and review of literature

Tuberculoma of the lung is one of manifestations in tuberculosis and usually presents as a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN). It is difficult to differentiate tuberculoma from SPN by other benign or malignant diseases. At present, the crucial role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases has been well acknowledged. Here, we reported 53 patients undergoing VATS resection for tuberculomas in our series. No postoperative mortality was found and only two patients experienced prolonged air-leakage (>7 d) and two had minor wound infections that were recovered after anti-tuberculosis or antibiotic treatment. Anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy from 6 to 12 months was routinely used postoperatively. We conclude that VATS is a satisfactory tool for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculoma and can also establish a reliable diagnosis for all patients with SPNs.

The role of routine culture for tuberculosis during bronchoscopy examination of lung masses

BACKGROUND

Many centers routinely culture bronchoscopy samples for mycobacteria even when tuberculosis (TB) is not strongly suspected. The value of this practice has hardly been investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the utility of routine culture of bronchoscopy samples of lung masses for mycobacteria in a region where TB is not endemic.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study group consisted of 168 patients who underwent bronchoscopy for investigation of lung masses in a major tertiary-care, university-affiliated facility in central Israel. The findings on acid-fast bacillus staining and culture were reviewed, and data on demographic characteristics were collected from the files.

RESULTS

There were 97 men (58%) and 71 women with a mean age of 62 +/- 25 years. One culture (0.6%) grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There were no cases of positive acid-fast bacillus smear or positive nontuberculous mycobacteria culture. Sixty USD (5.45%) would be saved per patient without clinical suspicion of TB.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the need to formulate new guidelines for the performance of mycobacterial cultures of bronchoscopy specimens in areas with a low prevalence of TB.