Computerized tomography in the study of tuberculosis

: Twenty-five HIV-negative patients with proven tuberculosis were studied; 10 of them had had bacteriologic confirmation, 1 tuberculin conversion, 2 biopsy confirmation and in 12 cases ex juvantibus criteria had been followed. All patients underwent X-ray and CT exams of the chest which were useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment in 22/25 patients. CT yielded better results than conventional radiography in the following cases: miliary cases (1 CT-positive case vs no positives at conventional X-rays), cavities (12 CT-positive cases vs 6 at conventional X-rays), bronchogenic spread (10 CT-positive cases vs 7 at conventional X-ray), nodules (4 CT-positive cases vs 2 at conventional X-rays), consolidations (5 CT-positive cases vs 1 at conventional X-rays), adenopathies (10 CT-positive cases vs 7 at conventional X-ray), extrapulmonary lesions (3 CT-positive cases vs no case at conventional X-ray). In 13 patients with negative sputum CT helped the diagnosis to be made. Chest radiography is currently the major exam for the first approach to tuberculosis. Nonetheless, CT yields valuable information when clinical signs or bacteriologic information are poor.