Diagnostic Value of Annular Enhancement Sign on Enhanced CT Scan in Tuberculoma

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of annular enhancement sign on enhanced CT scans in tuberculoma. Methods The patients pathologically and clinically confirmed including pulmonary tuberculoma(n=21)and pulmonary carcinoma(n=13)and inflammatory nodules(n=8) were studied with plain chest CT scanning and enhanced scanning to observe the enhancement degree and pattern. Part of above including pulmonary tuberculoma(n=8)and pulmonary carcinoma(n=13)and inflammatory nodules(n=4)were reselected to examine pathologically the degree and pattern of vascularity. The image and pathology were contrasted. Results :The annular enhancement sign was based on cheesy necrosis inside the tuberculoma and the granuloma with great vascularity under the circled membrane, and was merely observed in tuberculoma. Conclusion The annular enhancement sign on enhanced CT scans is one characteristic of pulmonary tuberculoma,and is of high value in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculoma.