Chest X-ray findings in Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis

1. Infiltrate or consolidation
2. Any cavitary lesion
3. Nodule with poorly defined margin
4. Pleural effusion
5. Hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy
6. Linear, interstitial disease (in children only)
7. Other - any other findings of active TB, such as miliary TB.

In active PTB, infiltrates or consolidations and/or cavities are often seen in the upper lungs with or without mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy. Old healed TB usually presents as pulmonary nodules in the hilar area or upper lobes, with or without fibrotic scars and volume loss. Bronchiectasis and pleural thickening may be present.

1. Infiltrate or consolidation: opacification of airspaces within the lung parenchyma; may be dense or patchy and might have irregular, ill-defined or hazy borders.

2. Any cavitary lesion: lucency (darkened area) within the lung, with or without irregular margins that might be surrounded by an area of air space consolidation or infiltrates or by nodular or fibrotic (reticular) densities or both. The walls surrounding the lucent area can be thick or thin. Calcification can exist around the cavity.

3. Nodule with poorly defined margins: Round density within the lung parenchyma also called as tuberculoma; tree in bud sign. The surrounding haziness can be either subtle or readily apparent and suggests co-existing airspace consolidation.

4. Pleural effusion: presence of significant amount of fluid within the pleural space; blunting of costophrenic angle, which may or may not represent a small amount of fluid within the pleural space.

5. Hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy: enlargement of lymph nodes in one or both hila or within the mediastinum with or without associated atelectasis or consolidation.

6. Linear, interstitial disease:(in children only) prominence of linear, interstitial or septal markings.

7.Other: miliary TB: nodules of millet size (1-2mm) distributed throughout the parenchyma.