Imaging Modalities in Tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) presents a significant global health burden, exacerbated by multidrug-resistant and extrapulmonary infections.
• Accurate diagnosis and management are challenged by the complex nature of TB presentations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the role of various imaging modalities in the diagnosis, characterization, and treatment monitoring of tuberculosis.
• To highlight the evolving applications of advanced imaging and AI in managing TB.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging modalities including chest radiography, CT, MRI, and 18F-FDG PET-CT.
• Discussion of imaging's utility in pulmonary, extrapulmonary, and disseminated TB.
• Exploration of emerging AI-driven tools for TB diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Chest radiography serves as a primary screening tool.
• CT and MRI provide detailed anatomical information, while 18F-FDG PET-CT offers metabolic insights for disease activity assessment.
• Imaging is vital for CNS, musculoskeletal, abdominal, and genitourinary TB, aiding in differentiating active from inactive disease and monitoring treatment.

Conclusions:

• Imaging is indispensable for comprehensive TB management, offering critical diagnostic and monitoring capabilities.
• Advanced imaging techniques and AI show promise in improving diagnostic accuracy and personalizing TB treatment strategies.