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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Specific high-resolution computed tomography findings associated with sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis
Nobuyuki Kosaka1, Toyohiko Sakai, Hidemasa Uematsu
1Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan. nkosaka@fmsrsa.fukui-med.ac.jp
Objectives:
This study aimed to evaluate whether high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) could predict the results of a sputum smear in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Methods:
Forty-eight patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis were divided into 2 groups: sputum smear-positive (n = 25) and -negative (n = 23). The HRCT findings were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the presence or absence of features previously reported to indicate active pulmonary tuberculosis, including ground-glass opacity, cavitation, centrilobular opacity, and air space consolidation.
Results:
Although air space consolidation was the least common feature overall, it occurred significantly more frequently in the smear-positive group than in the smear-negative group. This feature also had the highest specificity and positive predictive value. Cavitation and ground-glass opacity also occurred significantly more frequently in the smear-positive group. The frequency of centrilobular opacity did not differ between the 2 groups.
Conclusions:
The present study suggested that the HRCT findings of air space consolidation, cavitation, and ground-glass opacity are significantly associated with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis.
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