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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indographics 2024; 03(02): 054-071
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787792
Review Article

Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Immunocompromised Patients: A Review

Lohith Kumar Bittugondanahalli Prakash 
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Manisha Mane
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Shalini Sahu
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Leena Robinson Vimala
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Pallavi Jha
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Grace Rebecca
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Aishwarya Manoharan
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
,
Aparna Irodi
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and in India. Immunocompromised individuals, including those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), cancer, diabetes, or those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, are at a heightened risk of developing TB, often presenting with atypical symptoms, imaging features, and more severe disease outcomes. This review highlights the atypical radiological pattern of TB in these states. It is well recognized that there is considerable overlap of imaging findings across a variety of pulmonary infections and noninfectious processes. The presence or absence of specific indicators and consideration of clinical factors can help narrow the differential diagnoses. Thereby, it is crucial for radiologists to identify the imaging features that not only are characteristic of pulmonary TB but also interpret the atypical findings and corroborate with appropriate clinical history, especially concerning the immune status of the patient, to provide crucial information while minimizing radiation exposure and patient expenditures for the best possible care.

Keywords

immunocompromised - tuberculosis - pulmonary infections


Publication History

Article published online:
24 July 2024

© 2024. Indographics. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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