Chest radiograph findings in children with tuberculous meningitis

Abstract

Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is diagnosed based on a combination of clinical, laboratory and radiological findings, including signs suggestive of tuberculosis (TB) on a standard chest X-ray (CXR).

Methods: We describe the radiological features suggestive of intrathoracic TB in children diagnosed with TBM during a prospective evaluation of TBM suspects seen at Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Results: Of 84 children treated for TBM, 31 (37%) had 'definite' TBM, 45 (55%) 'probable' TBM and 8 (9%) 'possible' TBM. In total, 37 (44%) TBM patients had CXR findings suggestive of TB, 9 (11%) with disseminated (miliary) TB. Only 1 in 4.39 children aged ≤3 years with TBM had suggestive CXR findings. The presence of complicated intrathoracic lymph node disease was significantly higher in children aged ≤3 years (OR 21.69, 95%CI 2.73-172.67, P < 0.01). Among 6 human immunodeficiency virus infected children, 3 (50%) had intrathoracic lymphadenopathy.

Conclusion: The majority of the children with TBM, including the very young, did not have signs suggestive of TB on CXR.