title: Diagnostic value of FASH ultrasound and chest X-ray in HIV-co-infected patients with abdominal tuberculosis.
abstract: In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected tuberculosis (TB) patients with negative acid-fast bacilli smears, chest radiography (CXR) is usually the first imaging step in the diagnostic work-up. Ultrasound, also in the form of focused assessment with sonography for TB-HIV (FASH),  is an additional imaging modality used to diagnose extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB). Findings from 82 patients with abdominal TB diagnosed by ultrasound were analysed and compared with CXR results. Enlarged abdominal lymph nodes were seen in 75.6% of the patients, spleen abscesses in 41.2% and liver  lesions in 30.6%. CXR showed a miliary pattern in 21.9% of the patients; 26.8% of the CXR had no radiological changes suggestive of pulmonary TB. This patient group would benefit from ultrasound in diagnostic algorithms for HIV-associated EPTB.
authors: Department of Medicine, Klinikum Muenchen-Perlach, Munich, Germany. echnatom@web.de
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Heller
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Goblirsch
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bahlas
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ahmed
authors: M-T
authors: MT
authors: Giordani
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Wallrauch
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Brunetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D060085:Coinfection; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D014391:Tuberculosis, Miliary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography