The method of coding and quantitative evaluation of tuberculosis lesions in the lungs

Abstract

To evaluate the degree of tuberculous lesions of the lungs, the method has been developed for coding and quantitative assessment of chest computed tomography results (chest CT) based on the presence of the following signs in each lobe of the lung: infiltrative and/or small focal changes – +1 point, focal formations (tuberculomas) – +2 points, cavitary changes (cavities) – +4 points. If there are all elements in the lobe, the maximum score is given – 7. The X-ray signs of tuberculous changes in the lungs are recorded in the form of a five-digit code "* * * | * *", where * corresponds to the lung lobe and is replaced by a figure corresponding to the total score calculated for this lobe. The arithmetic mean of the numbers in the code allows estimating the dissemination of tuberculosis: the higher the value, the more severe pathological changes in the lungs. The authors experimentally found that in the treatment of multiple and extensive drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis with, the timing of sputum conversion (r_s = 0.442; p < 0.01) and healing of cavities (r_s = 0.575; p < 0.05) directly depended on the severity of tuberculous changes in the lungs, revealed by chest CT and evaluated using the proposed method.