Yi Kyung Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ji Hye Kim MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kyung Soo Lee MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

So Young Yoo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hong Eo, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tae Yeon Jeon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yaejean Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Heeyoung Lee, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

To analyze different radiological manifestations of the childhood tuberculosis (TB) according to the patient’s age and their immune status.

CT scans of 119 patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups by their ages (0-12, younger, n = 28; 13-18, older, n = 91) and immune status (immunocompromized, n=17; immunocompetent, n=102). We assessed radiologic findings including nodules, tree-in-bud (TIB) signs, ground-glass opacity (GGO), consolidation, abscess, location of the lesions, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, calcification, pulmonary volume change, bronchial lesion, pleural effusion/thickening, military dissemination, cavity, and extrapulmonary lesions in each patients, and compared between the groups by using Chi-square test.

Lobar consolidation (9/28 [32%] vs. 10/91 [11%], p = 0.008), paratracheal (15/28 [54%] vs. 26/91 [29%], p = 0.015), subcarinal lymphadenopathy (15/28 [54%] vs. 30/91 [33%], p = 0.049), air-trapping (6/28 [21%] vs. 2/91 [2%], p＜0.001), and pleural effusion (11/28 [39%] vs. 17/91 [19%], p = 0.025) were more commonly seen in the younger group than older group, while nodules (19/28 [68%] vs. 81/91 [89%], p = 0.008), TIB (11/28 [39%] vs. 66/91 [73%], p = 0.001), and cavity (28/91 [31%] vs. 2/28 [7%], p = 0.012) were less frequently noted in the younger group. Other findings were not significantly different between two groups. Radiologic findings were not significantly different between immunocompromized and immunocompetent groups (p > 0.05).

CT in primary pulmonary TB in younger childhood tends to manifest previously known primary form of TB with consolidation, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and pleural effusion, whereas it in adolescents tends to show reactivation form of TB with nodules, endobronchial lesions, and cavity. CT manifestations of tuberculosis in pediatric immunocompromized patients are not different from those of immunocompetent children.

In primary pulmonary TB in childhood, age may be an important determinant factor for CT manifestations.

Kim, Y, Kim, J, Lee, K, Yoo, S, Eo, H, Jeon, T, Kim, Y, Lee, H, Childhood Primary Pulmonary Tuberculosis; Spectrum of CT Manifestations According to Patient Age and Immune Status.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9014323.html