title: Abdominal computed tomographic findings of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection in HIV seropositive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the computed tomographic (CT) findings of abdominal Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection and Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the CT findings of 30 patients with HIV and proven MTB (n = 9) or MAI (n = 21) infection was conducted. Images were reviewed by a radiologist blinded to the diagnosis, and the radiologic findings involving the abdominal viscera, peritoneum and lymph nodes were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following were more frequent in patients with MAI infection: hepatomegaly (MAI 71% v. MTB 44%, p < 0.05), uniform attenuation of lymph nodes (MAI 90% v. MTB 55%, p < 0.05) and clustered pattern of lymph nodes (MAI 57% v. MTB 22%, p < 0.05). In patients with MTB infection, lymph nodes with low attenuation centrally were more common (MAI 10% v. MTB 44%, p < 0.05), and mesenteric lymph nodes were significantly larger (MAI mean = 20 mm v. MTB mean = 40 mm, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although nonspecific, CT may be useful in the early diagnosis of MTB and MAI infection, allowing for presumptive treatment before microbiologic confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Dow-Mu M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Burn
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Jeremiah C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Healy
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002432:Cecum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging