PURPOSE: Differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule with cavity includes lung abscess, tuberculoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, metastasis and trauma, etc. We analyzed the CT appearance of tubercuioma presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule with cavity and describe the findings which suggest tuberculoma in the differential dignosis of soliary pulmonary nodule with cavity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 patients with solitary pulmonary nodule(diameter less than 4 cm) without surrounding parenchymal consolidation on chest radiograph, who had a cavity within the nodule on CT, were included in our study. Density of the nodule, maximal wall thickness, the character of inner and outer wall margin, location of cavity within the nodule, location of the nodule, presence or absence of satellite lesions and calcification were analyzed. RESULTS: Solitary tuberculoma with cavity showed maximal wall thickness more than 15 mm in 40%(10/25) and 5-14 mm in 56%(14/25), eccentric cavitation in 84%(21/25) and concentric cavitation in 16%(4/25), spiculated outer wall margin in 56%(14/15) and Iobulated margin in 32%(8/25), smooth inner wall margin in 60%(15/25) and nodular margin in 40%(10/25). CT density of the cavity wall compared with the chest wall muscle was low in 84%(21/25) and isodense in 16%(4/25). Accompanying satellite lesions were seen in 84% (21/25) and calcification was visible in 28%(7/25). CONCLUSION: The CT findings of solitary tuberculoma with cavity are relative peripheral location, eccentric cavitation, finely spiculated outer wall margin, and mean maximal wall thickness of 13.2 mm, which are also the common features of malignant nodule. However, relative low density of the nodule compared to the chest wall muscle and surrounding satellite lesions can be additional clues favoring solitary tuberculoma with cavity on CT.
Carcinoma, Bronchogenic ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung Abscess ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; Thoracic Wall ; Tuberculoma*

A study for seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HBeAg and Anti-HBe) by EIA method and the Liver Function Test(SGOT and SGPT) using kinetic method was carried :out from January; to October 1995 :among male workers of a .major iron and steel manufacturing company, located,,in Pohang. The results were as follows; 1. The distribution of hepatitis B virus markers showed that the proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-), HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) 'and HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (+) were 8.1%, 60.5% and 0.1%, respectively. The positive rate of HBsAg in all subjects was 8.2% whereas that of anti-HBs was 60.6%. 2. The proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) increased significantly with age. While the distribution of hepatitis B virus markers exhibited no significant differences among the groups classified by educational background or work type. 3. The proportion of drinkers in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) (73; 9%) was significantly lower than those of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (+) (84.6% and 85.7% respectively). The proportions of smoking for the three groups of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs(+),-HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) were 54.3%, 53.7% and 53.0%, respectively (p<0.01). The proportion of the subjects with abnormal liver function test in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) was 40.1%, whereas those in HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) were 21.9% and 18.4%, respectively. 4. The distribution of e Ag markers among HBsAg (+) subjects showed that the proportions of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-), HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) and HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(+) were 31.3%, 55.0% and 1.6%, respectively. The proportion of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-) decreased significantly with age and those of HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(-) and HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) increased with age. The positive rate of HBeAg among HBsAg (+) subjects was 32.9%. In conclusion, as a screening method, EIA is. recommended to test hepatitis B virus markers, especially when examining Anti-HBs more sensitively. For the workers of the iron and steel manufacturing company studied, liver diseases caused by other than hepatitis B should be given a special care including an education avoiding alcohol drinking.
Alcohol Drinking ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Iron ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steel*

A study for seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HBeAg and Anti-HBe) by EIA method and the Liver Function Test(SGOT and SGPT) using kinetic method was carried :out from January; to October 1995 :among male workers of a .major iron and steel manufacturing company, located,,in Pohang. The results were as follows; 1. The distribution of hepatitis B virus markers showed that the proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-), HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) 'and HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (+) were 8.1%, 60.5% and 0.1%, respectively. The positive rate of HBsAg in all subjects was 8.2% whereas that of anti-HBs was 60.6%. 2. The proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) increased significantly with age. While the distribution of hepatitis B virus markers exhibited no significant differences among the groups classified by educational background or work type. 3. The proportion of drinkers in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) (73; 9%) was significantly lower than those of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (+) (84.6% and 85.7% respectively). The proportions of smoking for the three groups of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs(+),-HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) were 54.3%, 53.7% and 53.0%, respectively (p<0.01). The proportion of the subjects with abnormal liver function test in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) was 40.1%, whereas those in HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) were 21.9% and 18.4%, respectively. 4. The distribution of e Ag markers among HBsAg (+) subjects showed that the proportions of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-), HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) and HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(+) were 31.3%, 55.0% and 1.6%, respectively. The proportion of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-) decreased significantly with age and those of HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(-) and HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) increased with age. The positive rate of HBeAg among HBsAg (+) subjects was 32.9%. In conclusion, as a screening method, EIA is. recommended to test hepatitis B virus markers, especially when examining Anti-HBs more sensitively. For the workers of the iron and steel manufacturing company studied, liver diseases caused by other than hepatitis B should be given a special care including an education avoiding alcohol drinking.
Alcohol Drinking ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Iron ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steel*