[Comparative characterization of x-ray studies for diagnosing minor forms of tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes].

This paper deals with a follow-up of children referred for further studies with a presumptive diagnosis of minor tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes (ITLN). The authors compare the efficiency and implication of all used X-ray tomographic studies. In 2002 to 2005, a total of 187 children were examined by survey X-ray study, imaging, and computed tomography (CT). X-ray study applying the conventional procedure revealed enlarged ITLN in 64 (34.2%) children and deformity of the lung roots in 108 (57.6%); in 15 (8.0%) children having no changes on routine X-ray tomographic study, positive tuberculin tests suggesting the high activity of tuberculous infection served as the basis for further examination. Comprehensive clinical and X-ray studies employing CT confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculosis in 81 (43.3%) children. It has been ascertained that CT can visualize ITLN that is no longer observable by means of the conventional X-ray tomographic procedure. The use of CT excludes cases of hyperdiagnosis of minor forms of tuberculosis of ITLN, which are encountered when traditional X-ray tomography is applied.