HRCT shows variations in appearance in disseminated tuberculosis in adults.

To examine patterns of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of lungs of adults with disseminated tuberculosis (TB).Disseminated TB was defined as radiological involvement of all lung lobes.The case series illustrated wide variation in HRCT of disseminated TB. Patterns identified on HRCT included (1) miliary TB (haematogenous dissemination), (2) miliary TB with exudative reaction, (3) bronchogenic spread, (4) miliary TB mixed with bronchogenic spread, and (5) bronchogenic spread with multiple cavity formation.The HRCT patterns described allow classification of disseminated TB according to the mechanism of spread (haematogenous and/or bronchogenic) and the degree of local lung involvement (reaction or cavitation).