Presentation
Non-specific cough for last three months. Good social status.
Patient Data
Diffuse reticular and micronodular pattern with a predilection for upper and middle zones. There is a mass in the middle zone of the right lung and two cavities in the middle and upper zones of the left lung.
Areas of micronodular pattern in upper lobes and apical segment of lower lobes and middle lobe, with tree in bud sign.
There are also areas of consolidation with cavitation located bilaterally in segments 3, and in segment 1/2, segment 2R and segment 6R.
No pleural effusion. No significant mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
Case Discussion
Although tuberculosis is mainly a problem in developing countries, there is a rising incidence in developed countries too. Therefore it is important to use chest x-ray as a relatively low dose clinical test which returns valuable results, especially in younger patients with uncertain airway changes.
Previous contact with tuberculosis was not reported in this case, and the bronchial lavage smear for acid-fast bacilli was positive. The CT was performed to exclude other thoracic pathologies.
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