CT Imaging Characteristics of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease, Active Tuberculosis and Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

Background The differential diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease, active tuberculosis (ATB) and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains difficult. Objectives To explore the CT imaging characteristics of NTM lung disease, ATB and MDR-TB for differential diagnosis. Methods Patients with NTM lung disease (n=200), ATB (n=200) and MDR-TB (n=200) who were examined and treated from August 2013 to May 2021 were included. Their chest CT imaging results were retrospectively analyzed, and the imaging characteristics were compared. Results The proportion of cases complicated with underlying lung disease, cough and hemoptysis was significantly higher in NTM group than those in ATB and MDR-TB groups (P Conclusions The imaging characteristics of NTM lung disease are quite similar to those of ATB and MDR-TB, but they can be differentially diagnosed through the types of cavities and nodules, incidence rate of bronchiectasis, and differences in lung consolidation, lung damage, calcification, pleural thickening and pleural effusion.