Pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium kansasii: findings on computed tomography of the chest

OBJECTIVE: To describe the main tomography findings in patients diagnosed with pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium kansasii. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of computed tomography scans of 19 patients with pulmonary infection by M. kansasii. RESULTS: Of the 19 patients evaluated, 10 (52.6%) were male and 9 (47.4%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 58 years (range, 33-76 years). Computed tomography findings were as follows: architectural distortion, in 17 patients (89.5%); reticular opacities and bronchiectasis, in 16 (84.2%); cavities, in 14 (73.7%); centrilobular nodules, in 13 (68.4%); small consolidations, in 10 (52.6%); atelectasis and large consolidations, in 9 (47.4%); subpleural blebs and emphysema, in 6 (31.6%); and adenopathy, in 1 (5.3%). CONCLUSION: There was a predominance of cavities, as well as of involvement of the small and large airways. The airway disease was characterized by bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis presenting as centrilobular nodules.