Computed tomography demonstration of the complications and associations of lymphobronchial tuberculosis in children

[摘要] Lymphobronchial tuberculosis (LBTB) is tuberculous lymphadenopathy involving theairways, which is particularly common in children.AIM: To describe the CT findings of LBTB in children, the parenchymal complications andassociated abnormalities.METHOD: CT scans of 98 children with LBTB were retrospectively reviewed.Lymphadenopathy, bronchial narrowing, parenchymal complications and associationswere documented.RESULTS: Infants comprised 51% of patients. The commonest lymphadenopathy wassubcarinal (97% of patients). Bronchial compressions (259 in total) were present in allpatients, of which 23% were severe / complete stenoses and 28% affected bronchusintermedius. Parenchymal complications were present in 94% of patients, includingconsolidation (88%), breakdown (42%), air trapping (38%), expansile pneumonia (28%),collapse (17%) and bronchiectasis (9%), all predominantly right-sided (63%). Associationsincluded oval focal bodies, miliary nodules, pleural disease and intracavitory bodies.CONCLUSIONS: The most important CT finding of children with LBTB is visible airwaycompression as a result of lymphadenopathy. CT of children with LBTB showed thatairway compressions were more severe in infants and most commonly involved bronchusintermedius. Numerous parenchymal complications were documented, all showing rightsidedpredominance. Several associations were identified.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand