Objective: It has been stated, but not adequately assessed, that pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic or immunocompromised patients often has an atypical pattern and distribution. To evaluate the CT features of pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic or immunocompromised patients compared with patients without underlying disease, we performed this retrospective study.
Materials and methods: We reviewed conventional CT scans (n = 100) and high-resolution CT scans (n = 16) of the chest in 110 adult patients with active postprimary tuberculosis. Seventy-one patients had no underlying disease, 31 had diabetes mellitus, and eight were immunocompromised.
Results: In patients who had no underlying disease, 44 had nodular opacities, 11 had consolidation, and 13 had consolidation with associated loss of volume. Characteristic features of tuberculosis in this group of patients included segmental distribution (97%), satellite lesions (93%), single cavity within any given lesion (95%), and tendency toward architectural distortion and loss of volume. In diabetic and immunocompromised patients, 15 had nodular opacities, seven had consolidation, and 15 had consolidation with associated loss of volume. Diabetic and immunocompromised patients had a high prevalence of nonsegmental distribution (30%) and multiple small cavities within any given lesion (44%). Unusual localization of tuberculosis, including disease confined to the basal segments of the lower lobes, anterior segment of the upper lobes, or right middle lobe, occurred equally in both groups (17% and 18%).
Conclusion: We conclude that diabetic and immunocompromised patients have a higher prevalence of multiple cavities within any given lesion (p < .01) and of nonsegmental distribution (p < .01) than do patients without underlying disease.