Abstract

Thorax computed tomography (CT) obviously clarifies characteristics of pulmonary cavitations. In this study, the contribution of thorax CT alone to diagnosis was searched prospectively in pulmonary diseases causing cavitation. Hundred cases with cavitations that were determined on thorax CT were included. The characteristic properties of cavitations were evaluated by a radiologist. Cases with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), pulmonary abscess and lung cancer were 92% of all cases. It was observed that mean smallest diameter was in TB cavitations and mean largest diameter was in cancer cavitations. In all three disease groups, the diameter of cavitation was not statistically different (p=0.098). In cancer cavitations the wall thickness was increased (p=0.000) and the wall was non-uniform (p=0.044), and secondary findings were significantly more (p=0.037). The outer margins of cancer and abscess cavitations were found to be irregular differing from TB cavitations (p=0.002). There were satellite lesions around all TB cavitations (p=0.001). Air-fluid content was frequently seen in cancer and abscess groups (p=0.006). For cases where the radiologist made one, two or three estimates the probability of these predictions to be consistent with the true diagnosis was 89.4%, 87.8%, and 100% respectively (p=0.45). In conclusion, the wall thickness, outer margins, contents, secondary findings and satellite lesions of the cavitation help in differentiation of TB, cancer and abscess cavitations, and consistency of radiological diagnosis by thorax CT with true diagnosis was between 87.8% and 100%.