Tuberculosis: a radiologic review.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is experiencing a resurgence, particularly in nonendemic regions.
• Factors contributing to this include increased migration and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic.
• TB can affect virtually any organ system, not just the thorax.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of understanding the imaging manifestations of tuberculosis.
• To emphasize the challenges in diagnosing TB, especially when exposure history is absent or skin tests are negative.
• To underscore the need for radiologists and clinicians to recognize TB's diverse presentations.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical and radiologic features of tuberculosis across various organ systems.
• Analysis of diagnostic challenges, including non-specific symptoms and negative diagnostic tests.
• Emphasis on the role of imaging in identifying patterns suggestive of tuberculosis.

Main Results:

• Tuberculosis can present with varied clinical and radiologic findings, often mimicking other conditions.
• Evidence of active disease or a history of exposure is not always present.
• Diagnostic tests like the tuberculin skin test can be unreliable in excluding infection.

Conclusions:

• Timely diagnosis of tuberculosis is critical to prevent severe morbidity.
• Radiologists and clinicians must be aware of the typical and atypical imaging patterns of TB.
• Definitive diagnosis often requires biopsy or culture, but imaging plays a key role in guiding suspicion and management.