Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Cocuk Enfeksiyon Dergisi, cilt.13, sa.2, ss.78-84, 2019 (Scopus)
Objective: The objective of this study is to define specific computed tomography (CT) findings in the diagnosis of pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis. Material and Methods: Fifty-seven pediatric patients with suspicion of tuberculosis were involved in this study. Thoracic CT images were reviewed by two radiologists in consensus. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with culture (gastric lavage, pleural fluid, biopsy or bronchoalveolar lavage specimens) and 20 patients were clinically diagnosed with tuberculosis. The criteria evaluated were lymph node enlargement (> 1 cm), calcified lymph nodes, consolidation, cavitation, tree-in-bud opacity, pleural effusion, pleural thickening, empyema and atelectasis. The differences between tuberculosis patients (group A) and non-tuberculosis patients (group B) were analyzed using Fisher exact test. Results: Lymph node enlargement (> 1 cm) was significantly higher in group A (27/37) than group B (5/20) (p< 0.01). Consolidation was significantly more frequently encountered in group B (11/20) compared with group A (7/37; p< 0.01). The sensitivity and spesifity of lymph node enlargement with a maximal diameter of > 1 cm were 73% and 75%, respectively. In group A, pleural effusion was present in 43.2% (n= 16) of the patients, atelectasis in 40.5% (n= 15), pleural thickening and consolidation each in 18.9% (n= 7), tree-in-bud opacification in 16.2% (n= 6), and calcified lymph nodes in 13.5% (n= 5). In group B, pleural effusion was present in 40% (n= 8) of the patients, atelectasis in 35% (n= 7), pleural thickening and empyema each in 20% (n= 4), and tree-in-bud opacification in 15% (n= 3). These differences were not significant. Conclusion: Lymph node enlargement could be the only abnormal finding of pediatric tuberculosis on thoracic CT images. Other imaging findings are not specific for tuberculosis.