Abstract: Objective  To explore imaging characteristics of plain and enhanced CT scan for pulmonary tuberculosis in children.  Methods  We analyzed retrospectively imaging data from 69 children patients with pulmonary tuberculosis hospitalized in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Chest Hospital from July 2008 to August 2011.All patients were confirmed diagnosis with clinical symptoms, TST result, CT imaging and clinical symptoms improved after antituberculous treatment.   Results  Different CT imaging were as follows：8 cases with primary pulmonary tuberculosis including 5 cases with primary syndrome and 3 cases with tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes. Primary syndrome was composed of primary tuberculosis focus, tuberculous lymphangitis and lymphadenitis. CT plain scan showed multiple lymphadenectasis in hilum of lung and mediastinal, axillary. Meanwhile, heterogeneous enhancement or lymph node center caseous necrosis zone without enhancement, edge ring enhancement features were showed in enhanced scan imaging. The miliary nodules in size, density, distribution were uniform in two lungs and the mediastinal lymph node was enlarged in 10 cases with hematogenous disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis. The imaging of infiltrative focus and caseous pneumonia presented scattered nodules and patchy shadow in two or more lobes in 43 cases. Caseous pneumonia or cavitation formation were based on the nodular, patchy, large patchy foci of tuberculosis. Eight cases with tuberculous pleurisy were presented with pleural effusion and pleural thickening.   Conclusion  Plain and enhanced CT have a certain value in the diagnosis of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis and in definition of lung lesions clearly various morphological, mild lesions, occult lesions, micro nodules and caseous pneumonia.It also provide strong basis for diagnosis.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/radiography, Tomography, X-ray computed, Child