MDCT abnormalities of small- and medium-sized bronchus in active XXXX : a new angle on an old disease.

@entity1 @entity854 @entity378 @entity1907
BACKGROUND: The incidence and findings of tuberculous invasion of the peripheral bronchus have not been fully investigated with MDCT. Purpose To evaluate the prevalence and findings of MDCT abnormalities of small- and medium-sized bronchus (SMB) in active @entity1907 ( @entity378 ). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using multiplanar reformation, 35 consecutive MDCT scans (follow-up exams available in 14 @entity1 with a mean interval of 8.1 months) were assessed for following abnormalities of SMB: bronchial impaction (BI), wall thickening, dilatation, peribronchial cuff of soft tissue, and bronchocavitary fistula. It was also assessed whether tree-in-buds (TIB) have a tendency to distribute in the territories of diseased SMB, and whether @entity854 are present in @entity1 with relatively mild disease. RESULTS: @entity854 were observed in 23 (65.7%) @entity1 with active @entity378 . The most frequent finding was wall thickening (n = 18, 51.4%), followed by BI (n = 13, 37.1%; zigzag-shaped in four), dilatation (n = 11, 31.4%), amputated appearance of air column (n = 11, 31.4%), peribronchial cuff of soft tissue (n = 10, 28.6%), and bronchocavitary fistula (n =8, 22.9%). TIB (n = 29; absent in two @entity1 with SMB) was mainly within (n = 14) or close to (n = 4) the territory of diseased SMB. Follow-up CT frequently showed improvement of wall thickening (11/12) and persistence of bronchial dilatation (11/13). SMB abnormality was present in all of six @entity1 with mild disease. CONCLUSION: MDCT shows that tuberculous invasion of the peripheral bronchus may be more frequent than previously thought, of which findings include wall thickening, BI, dilatation, amputated appearance of air column, peribronchial cuff of soft tissue and bronchocavitary fistula.
