[Effectiveness of radiologic examination methods in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis].
OBJECTIVE
To determine an optimal noninvasive radiologic examination method (computed tomography or roentgenography) in early diagnostics of pulmonary tuberculosis.


METHODS
We have selected 43 patients with diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, who were examined using roentgenography and computed tomography during 2002-2006. Data were confirmed by biopsy or bacteriological test. Evaluation criteria were anamnesis, prolonged cough productive of sputum, prolonged fever, roentgenologic and laboratory findings (lymphocytosis, monocytosis), antibiotic therapy without response.


RESULTS
Diagnostic signs of pulmonary tuberculosis were infiltration (89%), lymphadenopathy (63%), calcification in lymph nodes (49%), pneumofibrosis (56%), focus of tuberculosis (54%), foci in lung segments (67%). Other features were as follows: adhesions, pleural effusion, coated pleura, calcified tuberculoma. Biopsy was performed to 25% of patients: in 6 patients during fibrobronchoscopy, in 3 during operation, and in 2 during pleural puncture. Fibrobronchoscopy was done in 70% of patients, and findings were as follows: mucus (31%), blood (2%), bronchial deformations (22%), edema of bronchial wall (18%), and no pathology (31%). Only 8% had acid-resistant cocci.


CONCLUSIONS
Computed tomography is 2 times more efficient than roentgenography in detection of lung alterations, dissemination with focal infiltration in the bronchioles, coated pleura, pleuritis, adhesions and 8 times more efficient in diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. In evaluation of pulmonary consolidation, there was no significance difference between diagnostic methods.
Rimkeviciūte
Ernesta
E
Center of Radiology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos, Santariskiu 2, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania. ernestarimkeviciute@yahoo.co.uk
Basevicius
Algidas
A
Dobrovolskiene
Laima
L
Rimkeviciene
Meida
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology