title: Mycobacterium kansasii pulmonary infection: CT findings in 29 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to assess computed tomography (CT) features of Mycobacterium kansasii pulmonary infection (M. kansasii infection).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 29 cases confirmed to have M. kansasii infections were analyzed. The main locations of pulmonary changes, incidence, and various imaging features of the cavity (location, maximum diameter, wall thickness, satellite nodules, intracavitary fluid), and other imaging findings such as nodules, consolidation, and bronchiectasis, were visually assessed on CT images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Locations of the main abnormalities were as follows: right S2 41%; right S1 31%; left S1+S2 2: 21%. A total of 49 cavities were observed in 24 (83%) cases. The mean maximum diameter, wall thickness, and ratio of wall thickness to the maximum diameter were 33.0 mm, 4.7 mm, and 0.19, respectively. Shapes of the cavities were round in nine (18.4%), oval in 17 (34.7%), and tubular/meandering in 23 (47%). Satellite nodules were found in only 30.6% of patients (n = 15). Small nodules were found in 26 (89.7%) patients, and most of them showed a centrilobular distribution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristic CT findings suggestive of M. kansasii infection include cavities located in the right posterior or apical segment with a tubular/meandering shape and a thin wall.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta-Tsukinowa cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan. masashi@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Yoshirou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouchi
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nitta
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019909:Mycobacterium kansasii; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed