PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - S. Kuroishi AU - Y. Nakamura AU - H. Hayakawa AU - M. Shirai AU - Y. Nakano AU - K. Yasuda AU - T. Suda AU - H. Nakamura AU - K. Chida TI - <em>Mycobacterium avium</em> complex disease: prognostic implication of high-resolution computed tomography findings AID - 10.1183/09031936.00074207 DP - 2008 Jul 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 147--152 VI - 32 IP - 1 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/32/1/147.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/32/1/147.full SO - Eur Respir J2008 Jul 01; 32 AB - To evaluate the prognostic implications of computed tomography (CT) findings in assessing responses to treatment in Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pulmonary disease without underlying lung disease, high-resolution (HR)CT findings were correlated based on the results of sputum conversion after anti-MAC therapy. A total of 59 patients underwent HRCT before treatment and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by the results of sputum conversion. Atelectasis, cavities and pleural thickening on HRCT were significantly more frequent and extensive among patients in the sputum nonconverted group than among those in the converted group. Furthermore, bronchiectasis was also significantly more extensive among patients in the nonconverted group, even though there was no significant difference in frequency between these two groups. These results suggest that high-resolution computed tomography findings are good predictors of response to treatment in Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.