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Tuberculosis of the chest
Luís Curvo-Semedo1, Luísa Teixeira, Filipe Caseiro-Alves
1Department of Radiology, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Praceta Mota Pinto/Avenida Bissaya Barreto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal. curvosemedo@gmail.com
European Journal of Radiology
|May 21, 2005
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) cases surged in the mid-1980s due to factors like AIDS and drug resistance. Radiologists now face challenges recognizing altered TB patterns in diverse patient groups for effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) has a long history as a significant global health burden.
- A resurgence of TB cases occurred in the mid-1980s, challenging earlier control efforts.
- Key drivers of this resurgence include the AIDS epidemic, poverty, aging populations, and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the evolving epidemiological landscape of tuberculosis.
- To emphasize the impact of changing TB patterns on radiological presentations.
- To underscore the need for radiologists to recognize both classical and atypical TB manifestations.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological trends in tuberculosis.
- Analysis of shifts in radiological patterns of the disease.
- Examination of TB presentations in immunocompromised and elderly populations.
Main Results:
- The classical distinction between primary and postprimary tuberculosis is diminishing.
- Atypical radiological presentations are increasingly observed, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
- The rise in TB cases is linked to the AIDS epidemic, poverty, aging, and MDR-TB.
Conclusions:
- Radiologists must adapt to recognize diverse and atypical tuberculosis presentations.
- Familiarity with classical and altered radiological patterns is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
- Early diagnosis of tuberculosis, facilitated by recognizing varied presentations, improves therapeutic outcomes.