Pulmonary involvement in pleural tuberculosis: How often does it mean disease activity?
Respir Med. 2011 Mar 8;
Authors: Seiscento M, Vargas FS, Bombarda S, Sales RK, Terra RM, Uezumi K, Teixeira LR, Antonangelo L
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in chest X-rays and high-resolution computed tomographies of patients with pleural tuberculosis, the incidence of parenchymal and mediastinal lung lesions suggestive of active disease. METHODS: Prospective study (2008-2009) evaluating the radiographic and tomographic abnormalities of 88 HIV-negative patients with pleural tuberculosis (unilateral effusion). The images were reviewed by 3 independent specialists, and the observed changes were classified according to previously established criteria: presence or absence of signs suggestive of disease activity, and nonspecific findings. RESULTS: Abnormal changes were observed in chest X-rays of 22 (25%) patients and in the computed tomography of 55 (63%). Images compatible with active pulmonary tuberculosis were detected by radiography in 9 (10%) patients and by tomography in 38 (43%). Only 4 (4.5%) patients had tomography images suggestive of residual disease. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that pulmonary involvement is quite common in pleural tuberculosis. This finding is mainly observed in high-resolution computed tomography and has important epidemiological implications, since patients with pleural tuberculosis are significant sources of infection and disease dissemination.
PMID: 21392956 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]