J Korean Soc Radiol.  2012 Jun;66(6):527-533. 10.3348/jksr.2012.66.6.527.

High Resolution CT Findings of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: Comparison between the First Treatment and the Re-Treatment Group

• Gwak SH
• Kim SJ
• Cho BS
• Jeon MH
• Lee KM
• Kim EY
• Kang MH
• Yi KS
• Lee SY

• KMID: 1439469
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2012.66.6.527

Abstract

PURPOSE
To analyze and compare the thin section CT findings of first and re-treatment nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between January 2005 and April 2010, 121 patients with positive sputum culture for NTM were recruited. We included only 32 patients underwent high resolution chest CT and were confirmed by American Thoracic Society criteria NTM pulmonary infection (first treatment 15, re-treatment 17 patients). CT images of 32 patients were reviewed retrospectively. We evaluated the frequency and laterality of the followings; nodule, increased density, bronchial change, parenchymal change.
RESULTS
The significantly frequent CT findings of the re-treatment NTM group were well defined nodules (retreatment-82.4%, first treatment-33.3%, p = 0.00), consolidations (retreatment-88.2%, first treatment-53.3%, p = 0.03), bronchial changes (bronchiectasis; retreatment-100%, first treatment-66.6%, p = 0.01, bronchial narrowing; retreatment-23.5%, first treatment-0%, p = 0.04 and mucoid impaction; retreatment-58.8%, first treatment-20.0%, p = 0.03) and atelectasis with bronchiectasis (retreatment-88.2%, first treatment-26.7%, p = 0.00). However, most of the evaluated thin-section CT findings, such as centrilobular and ill-defined nodules, lobular, segmental and subpleural consolidations, ground glass attenuation, bronchial wall thickening, cavities, pleural lesions, fibrotic band, emphysema and laterality of lesions, have not shown significant differences between first treatment and the re-treatment group.
CONCLUSION
Thin section CT findings of well defined nodules, consolidations, bronchial changes (bronchiectasis, bronchial narrowing and mucoid impaction) and atelectasis with bronchiectasis are highly suggestive of re-treatment NTM pulmonary disease.

MeSH Terms

Bronchiectasis
Emphysema
Glass
Humans
Lung
Lung Diseases
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Pleural Cavity
Pulmonary Atelectasis
Retrospective Studies
Sputum
Thorax

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