High-resolution CT findings of pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in renal transplant recipients

Objective:Renal transplantation recipients are at increased risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection because of immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to assess high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings in renal transplantation recipients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).Methods:We reviewed HRCT findings from patients diagnosed with pulmonary TB, established by M. tuberculosis detection in bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum or biopsy sample. Two observers independently reviewed HRCT images and reached consensus decisions on the presence and distribution of: (i) miliary nodules, (ii) cavitation and centrilobular tree-in-bud nodules, (iii) ground-glass attenuation and consolidation, (iv) mediastinal lymph node enlargement and (v) pleural effusion.Results:The sample comprised 40 patients [26 males, 14 females; median age, 45 years (range, 12–69 years)]. The main HRCT pattern was miliary nodules (40%), followed by cavitation and centrilobular tree-in-bud nodules (22.5%), ground-glass attenuation and ...