Chest tuberculosis: Radiological review and imaging recommendations

• Published in: The Indian journal of radiology & imaging Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 213 - 225
• Main Authors: Bhalla, Ashu Seith, Goyal, Ankur, Guleria, Randeep, Gupta, Arun Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd 01.07.2015; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Analysis; Care and treatment; chest radiograph; Chest Radiology; chest tuberculosis (pulmonary, nodal and pleural); computed tomography; Diagnosis; Health aspects; imaging recommendations; Ionizing radiation; Mortality; Radiology; tb active; Tuberculosis; United States; United States; Chest radiograph; computed tomography; TB active; chest tuberculosis (pulmonary, nodal and pleural); imaging recommendations; chest tuberculosis (pulmonary; nodal and pleural
• ISSN: 0971-3026; 0970-2016; 1998-3808
• DOI: 10.4103/0971-3026.161431

Abstract Chest tuberculosis (CTB) is a widespread problem, especially in our country where it is one of the leading causes of mortality. The article reviews the imaging findings in CTB on various modalities. We also attempt to categorize the findings into those definitive for active TB, indeterminate for disease activity, and those indicating healed TB. Though various radiological modalities are widely used in evaluation of such patients, no imaging guidelines exist for the use of these modalities in diagnosis and follow-up. Consequently, imaging is not optimally utilized and patients are often unnecessarily subjected to repeated CT examinations, which is undesirable. Based on the available literature and our experience, we propose certain recommendations delineating the role of imaging in the diagnosis and follow-up of such patients. The authors recognize that this is an evolving field and there may be future revisions depending on emergence of new evidence.