Table 1 Comparison of nodule characteristics between lung metastasis and hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis
Sources | Hematogenous | Hematogenous | |
Cancer history | Yes | No | |
Anatomical distribution | Scatter within two lung fields, but mostly distribute in the middle and lower lung field and surround subpleural lung tissues. | Acute HDTB | Subacute or chronic HDTB |
Randomly and evenly distribute in both lung fields | Randomly scatter in the two lung fields without uniformity the upper middle lung is more common | ||
Nature | Solid density, ground glass density, or mixed density | Uniform density | Uneven density, may display tuberculous globules, or tuberculoma |
Size | Variable | Uniform size, more miliary nodules | Variable |
Boundary | Most of nodules have clear boundaries, but part of them not, showing cavity or ground glass opacity | Clear | Not clear, may display cavity or ground glass opacity |
Accompanying symptoms | Mediastinal lymph node enlargement and pleural effusion | Mediastinal lymph node enlargement | |