HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

HIV Positive Patient. CT Scan Showed Non-necrotic Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy. What Are The Chances Of TB?

default
Posted on Tue, 24 Jul 2012
Question: Hello Doctor,
     I’m a HIV positive patient with CD4 count 67 /μl and viral load 0000 copies/ml. i had occasional pain in the right side of my abdomen ( 3 times in last 6 months). I suffered herpes zoster a year ago.
I went to doctor to get ART . he wanted me to get a CT scan of chest done.

The CT scan showed that I have non-necrotic mediastinal lymphadenopathy ( report attached.)
I absolutely do not have cough , do not get fever , my weight is stable from last 3 years, no night chills, and I have healthy apatite.

My questions are
1)     Is there a possibility of TB ? what are the chances? How to test it further.
2)     If I have TB , can I take ART and medicine for TB together.?

I’ve appointment with doctor tomorrow. However your opinion will be really helpful to me.

Thanks in advance.
Regards
doctor
Answered by Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra (14 hours later)
Hi,
Thanks for posting the query on XXXXXXX
After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:

1. Considering your HIV status and a low CD4 count, the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy points towards a very probable cause of tuberculosis as the etiological cause of mediastinal adenopathy.

2. Supportive investigations are: Ultrasonography of the abdomen, Mantoux test, Clinical examination for other sites of lymphadenopathy (If found any then FNAC from the lesion).

3. Considering your low cd4 count art and tb medications can be started simultaneously.

4.Also you need PCP and MAC prophylaxis (With septran and axithromycin respectively) at your CD4 count. Please discuss this issue with your doctor.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 600 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
HIV Positive Patient. CT Scan Showed Non-necrotic Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy. What Are The Chances Of TB?

Hi,
Thanks for posting the query on XXXXXXX
After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:

1. Considering your HIV status and a low CD4 count, the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy points towards a very probable cause of tuberculosis as the etiological cause of mediastinal adenopathy.

2. Supportive investigations are: Ultrasonography of the abdomen, Mantoux test, Clinical examination for other sites of lymphadenopathy (If found any then FNAC from the lesion).

3. Considering your low cd4 count art and tb medications can be started simultaneously.

4.Also you need PCP and MAC prophylaxis (With septran and axithromycin respectively) at your CD4 count. Please discuss this issue with your doctor.

I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.

Regards

Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB