High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Study in Infectious Lung Diseases.

Dr. Dharm Raj Meena; Dr. Sumitra Guar; Dr. Anand Prakash Verma; Dr. Sangeeta Saxena; Dr. Hashvardhan Khokhar

Volume : V, Issue : VI, June - 2016

High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Study in Infectious Lung Diseases.

Dr. Dharm Raj Meena, Dr. Sumitra Guar, Dr. Anand Prakash Verma, Dr. Sangeeta Saxena, Dr. Hashvardhan Khokhar

Abstract :

 Background: The present study concluded that high resolution computed tomography is an invaluable tool in defining the imaging features of lower respiratory tract infection and characterization of the disease based on various pattern as well as early detection of subtle pathological changes in lung by high resolution computed tomography. Aim & Objective: 1. To detect and characterize HRCT patterns of various lower respiratory tract infections. 2. To develop an approach to differential diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections based on HRCT pattern and distribution, with clinically correlated patient. 3. To recognize and differentiate infective from non–infective cause of lower respiratory tract disease. Setting and Design: This prospective study was conducted at department of radiodiagnosis, govt. medical college and associated group of hospitals, from December 2011 to December 2012 in association with department of medicine and paediatrics. Material and method: The study group included a total of 55 patients with suspected clinical diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection presenting in department of medicine and paediatrics. The diagnosis was established based on the clinical profile, laboratory investigations and imaging findings. Observations and Results: Fifty five patients with clinically suspected diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection underwent plain radiography of the chest followed by computed tomography. Of the 55 patients evaluated 50 patients were finally proven to have lower respiratory tract infection while 2 patients had a normal HRCT and 2 patients had old Koch’s chest with no HRCT sign of active disease and one patient had interstitial lung disease. Conclusion and Interpretation: In our study chest radiograph was positive in 47 out of 50 cases of LRTI infection. Consolidation, multifocal lobular and confluent together, formed the most common pattern of LRTI seen in 74 % of the positive cases. It was more commonly seen in bacterial infections12/15 (80%). On HRCT consolidation, lobar & multifocal type together, formed the most common pattern of LRTI. The second most common HRCT pattern was presence of centrilobular nodules.