Cardiac tuberculosis
Updates to Article Attributes
Cardiac tuberculosisrefers to the infection of the cardiac musculature withMycobacterium tuberculosis tuberculosis. It is a rare entity but known to occur.
Pathology
Generally associated with and occurring as a complication of mediastinal and pulmonary tuberculosis.
Pericardial and myocardial involvement is known. Endocardial spread may occur from myocardium. Modes of spread to the myocardium are via lymphatics from mediastinal nodes, directly from the pericardium, or via a hematogenous route.
Radiographic features
Plain filmradiograph
- acute stage: no findings in heart; active lung infection may be present
- chronic stage: pericardial calcification
CT
- pericardial effusion (mild)
- pericardial thickening
- pericardial calcification (chronic stage)
Cardiac MRI
- T1: nodular lesion which appear isointense to slightly hyperintense
- T2: isointense
- C+ Gd: mild heterogeneous enhancement
Treatment and prognosis
Patients generally respond well to antitubercular therapy. Clinical examination, known primary pulmonary infection and follow-up examinations will help confirm the diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis
Imaging differential considerations include
- cardiac metastasis
- cardiac sarcoma
- cardiac lymphoma
-<p><strong>Cardiac tuberculosis </strong>refers to the infection of the cardiac musculature with <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em>. It is a rare entity but known to occur.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Generally associated with and occurring as a complication of mediastinal and <a href="/articles/tuberculosis-pulmonary-manifestations">pulmonary tuberculosis</a>.</p><p>Pericardial and myocardial involvement is known. Endocardial spread may occur from myocardium. Modes of spread to the myocardium are via lymphatics from mediastinal nodes, directly from the <a href="/articles/pericardium">pericardium</a>, or via a hematogenous route. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain film</h5><ul>- +<p><strong>Cardiac tuberculosis </strong>refers to the infection of the cardiac musculature with <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em>. It is a rare entity but known to occur.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Generally associated with and occurring as a complication of mediastinal and <a href="/articles/tuberculosis-pulmonary-manifestations">pulmonary tuberculosis</a>.</p><p>Pericardial and myocardial involvement is known. Endocardial spread may occur from myocardium. Modes of spread to the myocardium are via lymphatics from mediastinal nodes, directly from the <a href="/articles/pericardium">pericardium</a>, or via a hematogenous route. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain radiograph</h5><ul>
-<strong>C+ Gd<span style="font-size:10.8333330154419px; line-height:17.3333320617676px">:</span></strong> mild heterogeneous enhancement</li>-</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Patients generally respond well to antitubercular therapy. Clinical examination, known <a title="Primary pulmonary tuberculosis" href="/articles/primary-pulmonary-tuberculosis">primary pulmonary infection</a> and follow-up examinations will help confirm the diagnosis.</p><h4><strong>Differential diagnosis</strong></h4><p>Imaging differential considerations include</p><ul>- +<strong>C+ Gd:</strong> mild heterogeneous enhancement</li>
- +</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Patients generally respond well to antitubercular therapy. Clinical examination, known <a href="/articles/primary-pulmonary-tuberculosis">primary pulmonary infection</a> and follow-up examinations will help confirm the diagnosis.</p><h4><strong>Differential diagnosis</strong></h4><p>Imaging differential considerations include</p><ul>