J Korean Radiol Soc.  1998 Jun;38(6):1037-1043. 10.3348/jkrs.1998.38.6.1037.

Sequential Radiographic Changes of Nodules in Patients with Miliary Pulmonary Tuberculosis

• Yeon JW
• Park CS
• Bae IY
• Kwak SM
• Cho CH
• Kwon MJ
• Joo JS
• Chung WK

• KMID: 2201342
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1998.38.6.1037

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate sequential changes in miliary nodules, as seen on chest radiographs in patients withmiliary tuberculosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed sequential changes in miliary nodules,as seen on the chest radiographs of 13 patients with miliary tuberculosis who recovered completely ofterantituberculous medication. Two were children and 11 were adults, and their ages ranged from 2 monts to 73years(mean, 38 years). In cases in which miliary tuberculosis had been diagnosed from initial chest radiographs,follow-up chest radiographs were obtained 5 to 15(mean, 10) months later. After complete resolution of miliarynodules, as seen on chest radiographs, high-resolution CT scanning was performed in three patients.
RESULTS
Asseen on follow-up chest radiographs obtained at one week, the number and size of miliary nodules had decreased ineight of nine patients (89%), and on those obtained at one month, these decreases were seen in all 13 patients.The mean duration of complete resolution of miliary nodules was 6.3 months ; in children, this was 3.5(range, 2-5)months, and in adults, 6.8 (range, 3-10) months. In all three patients involed, high-resolution CT scans obtainedafter complete radiographic resolution of miliary nodules showed no recurrence.
CONCLUSION
In patients withmiliary tuberculosis, the size and number of nodules had decreased within one month of adequate chemotherapy andon chest radiographs, complete resolution was seen at 6.3 months, on average.

Keyword

Tuberculosis, pulmonary; Lung, infection; Lung, nodule; Lung, radiography

MeSH Terms

Adult
Child
Drug Therapy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Radiography, Thoracic
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Miliary
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*