title: Tuberculosis vs. chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in mediastinal lymph nodes using computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes caused by tuberculosis (TB) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) are similar, sometimes resulting in misdiagnosis of the two diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the differential characteristics of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes caused by TB and CLL using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis for the anatomical distribution and enhancement patterns of mediastinal lymph nodes on MDCT in 67 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed untreated TB (58%) and CLL (42%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concerning the main anatomic distribution of lymph nodes, TB involved the 4R (n = 32, 82%) and 10R (n = 27, 69%) regions more often than CLL (n = 16, 57%; n = 12, 43%, respectively). Contrast region 1 had a greater tendency to be affected in CLL (n = 16, 57%) than TB (n = 11, 28%). TB showed peripheral enhancement in 28 cases (72%), frequently with a multilocular appearance, compared to CLL, which showed no peripheral enhancement in these cases. Homogeneous enhancement was more commonly seen in CLL than in TB (82% vs. 10%, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution and enhancement pattern of enlarged lymph nodes on MDCT was useful in differentiating TB and CLL.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Z-G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: L-Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: H-Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Q-H
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*