radiological features of tuberculosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
In primary tuberculosis:
- less than half of patients show radiological abnormalities
- there may be hilar lymph node enlargement; this subsides as immunity to the tubercle bacillus develops
- the hilar nodes or the Ghon focus may be calcified
In post-primary tuberculosis the radiological appearance is variable, including features such as:
- patchy solid lesions
- cavitated solid lesions
- streaky fibrosis
- flecks of calcification
- solitary tuberculoma presenting as a coin lesion
- hilar node enlargement
Classically, in miliary tuberculosis there are millet-sized nodules present throughout the lung fields, in practice, the chest radiograph is often normal.