Computed tomography of bronchiectasis in association with tuberculosis

Eight patients with pulmonary tuberculosis proven by positive sputum culture were found to have various degrees of bronchiectasis by computed tomography (CT) but not by plain chest radiography. The CT is characterized by cystic dilatation of the thick-walled bronchi manifested as strings or clusters of pearls or grapes for cystic bronchiectasis and a "tram-line" appearance for cylindrical bronchiectasis. We stress that bronchiectasis remains quite common in association with pulmonary tuberculosis, and CT can replace bronchography for its detection.