Pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium kansasii: findings on computed tomography of the chest.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the main tomography findings in patients diagnosed with pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium kansasii.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Retrospective study of computed tomography scans of 19 patients with pulmonary infection by M. kansasii.

RESULTS

Of the 19 patients evaluated, 10 (52.6%) were male and 9 (47.4%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 58 years (range, 33-76 years). Computed tomography findings were as follows: architectural distortion, in 17 patients (89.5%); reticular opacities and bronchiectasis, in 16 (84.2%); cavities, in 14 (73.7%); centrilobular nodules, in 13 (68.4%); small consolidations, in 10 (52.6%); atelectasis and large consolidations, in 9 (47.4%); subpleural blebs and emphysema, in 6 (31.6%); and adenopathy, in 1 (5.3%).

CONCLUSION

There was a predominance of cavities, as well as of involvement of the small and large airways. The airway disease was characterized by bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis presenting as centrilobular nodules.