Dados do Trabalho

Título

Tuberculosis from Head to Toe

Introdução e objetivo(s)

Tuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, less frequently, M. bovis. It can involve a spectrum of manifestations in multiple organs, with respiratory tract infection and pulmonary involvement being the most commonly observed presentation.

Ultrasound, computed tomography, X-rays, and magnetic resonance imaging can assist in the diagnosis and evaluation of various organs potentially affected by the disease, given that many cases present nonspecific symptoms, with varying sensitivity depending on the studied population and the affected organ.

Therefore, it is essential to understand the different presentations of this disease in different organs and across various methods to better indicate the appropriate techniques and examinations. This helps in defining the diagnosis and management, as well as evaluating treatment response and associated complications.

This work aims to demonstrate different cases of tuberculosis with typical presentations through the assessment of various imaging methods, assisting in the suspicion or diagnosis of the most frequent manifestations of this infection.

Método(s)

Confirmed cases of tuberculosis with typical presentations were selected to demonstrate the main imaging alterations across different methods (X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound) in various manifestations of pulmonary and extrapulmonary

Discussão

The clinical presentation of tuberculosis depends on the affected organ and the patient's immune response, with the lungs being the most commonly affected organ, followed by the genitourinary tract. Hematogenous spread is the primary form of dissemination to various organs.

Due to its diverse presentations, tuberculosis is an important differential diagnosis in developing countries, given its prevalence. Despite the diagnostic pillars for tuberculosis primarily involving clinical and laboratory evaluations, imaging studies play a crucial role as important diagnostic tool.

Imaging methods can assist in the diagnosis, offering varying levels of sensitivity in evaluating organs potentially affected by the disease, depending on the studied population and the disease's presentation.

Conclusões

Early recognition and treatment are essential for the proper management of patients with tuberculosis, reducing associated morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is important for radiologists and other healthcare providers to be familiar with the various presentations of tuberculosis.

Palavras Chave

TUBERCULOSIS; computed tomography (CT); infection

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