title: Comparison of chest CT findings in nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases vs. Mycobacterium tuberculosis lung disease in HIV-negative patients with cavities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article focuses on the differences between CT findings of HIV-negative patients who have cavities with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease and those with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections (TB).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 128 NTM disease patients (79 males and 49 females) with cavities in chest CT, matched for age and gender with 128 TB patients in the same period. Sputum cultures of all patients were positive for pathogens. Two independent chest radiologists evaluated the characteristics of the largest cavity and related factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interobserver agreement was excellent (κ value, 0.853-0.938). Cavity walls in NTM disease were significantly thinner (6.9±4 mm vs 10.9±6 mm, P<0.001) and more even (the ratio of thickness, 2.6±1 vs 3.7±2, P<0.001) than those in TB. The thickening of adjacent pleura next to the cavity was also significantly thicker in NTM than TB (P<0.001). However, in the multivariate analysis, thickening of adjacent pleura was the only significant factor among the representative cavity findings (Odds ratio [OR], 6.49; P<0.001). In addition, ill-defined tree-in-bud nodules (OR, 8.82; P<0.001), number of non-cavitary nodules (≥10mm) (OR, 0.72; P = 0.003), and bronchiectasis in the RUL (OR, 5.3; P = 0.002) were significantly associated ancillary findings with NTM disease in the multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The major cavities in NTM disease generally have thinner and more even walls than those in TB. When cavities are associated with adjacent pleural thickening, ill-defined satellite tree-in-bud nodules, or fewer non-cavitary nodules ≥10 mm, these CT findings are highly suggestive of NTM disease rather than TB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Radiology, Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi, Korea.
authors.forename: Cherry
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: So Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Management, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Division of pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Sun
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Young
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5640-3835
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*