Specific high-resolution computed tomography findings associated with sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate whether high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) could predict the results of a sputum smear in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis were divided into 2 groups: sputum smear-positive (n = 25) and -negative (n = 23). The HRCT findings were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the presence or absence of features previously reported to indicate active pulmonary tuberculosis, including ground-glass opacity, cavitation, centrilobular opacity, and air space consolidation.


RESULTS
Although air space consolidation was the least common feature overall, it occurred significantly more frequently in the smear-positive group than in the smear-negative group. This feature also had the highest specificity and positive predictive value. Cavitation and ground-glass opacity also occurred significantly more frequently in the smear-positive group. The frequency of centrilobular opacity did not differ between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggested that the HRCT findings of air space consolidation, cavitation, and ground-glass opacity are significantly associated with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis.
Kosaka
Nobuyuki
N
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan. nkosaka@fmsrsa.fukui-med.ac.jp
Sakai
Toyohiko
T
Uematsu
Hidemasa
H
Kimura
Hirohiko
H
Hase
Mitsuo
M
Noguchi
Masato
M
Itoh
Harumi
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology