This category comprises all findings typically associated with active pulmonary TB.<ref name=cdc/>
1. '''Infiltrate or consolidation ''' - Opacification of airspaces within the lung parenchyma. Consolidation or infiltrate can be dense or patchy and might have irregular, ill-defined, or hazy borders.
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File:Dense opacity of primary pulmonary tuberculosis.jpg|Dense homogenous opacity in right, middle and lower lobe of primary pulmonary TB.
File:Chest x-ray of Ghon's complex of active tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray of Ghon's complex of active tuberculosis. A Ghon's complex consists of a calcified focus of infection and an associated lymph node.
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2. '''Any cavitary lesion ''' - Lucency (darkened area) within the lung parenchyma, with or without irregular margins that might be surrounded by an area of airspace consolidation or infiltrates, or by nodular or fibrotic (reticular) densities, or both. The walls surrounding the lucent area can be thick or thin. Calcification can exist around a cavity.
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File:Tuberculosis-x-ray-1.jpg|Chest X-ray of a person with advanced tuberculosis: Infection in both lungs is marked by white arrow-heads, and the formation of a cavity is marked by black arrows.
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3. '''Nodule with poorly defined margins ''' - Round density within the lung parenchyma, also called a tuberculoma. Nodules included in this category are those with margins that are indistinct or poorly defined ([[tree-in-bud sign]]<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rossi|first=S. E.|author2=Franquet, T. |author3=Volpacchio, M. |author4=Gimenez, A. |author5= Aguilar, G. |title=Tree-in-Bud Pattern at Thin-Section CT of the Lungs: Radiologic-Pathologic Overview|journal=Radiographics|date=1 May 2005|volume=25|issue=3|pages=789–801|doi=10.1148/rg.253045115|url=http://radiographics.rsna.org/content/25/3/789.full|accessdate=28 May 2012}}</ref>). The surrounding haziness can be either subtle or readily apparent and suggests coexisting airspace consolidation.
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File:Chest X-ray and CT of tree-in-bud sign post-primary pulmonary tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray showing nodule with margins that are indistinct or poorly defined (tree-in-bud sign) in post-primary pulmonary TB.
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<br>4. '''Pleural effusion ''' - Presence of a significant amount of fluid within the pleural space. This finding must be distinguished from blunting of the costophrenic angle, which may or may not represent a small amount of fluid within the pleural space (except in children when even minor blunting must be considered a finding that can suggest active TB).
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File:Pleural effusion of primary pulmonary tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray showing dense opacity pleural effusion in the lower left lung of primary pulmonary TB.
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5. '''Hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy ''' ([[bihilar lymphadenopathy]]) - Enlargement of lymph nodes in one or both hila or within the mediastinum, with or without associated atelectasis or consolidation.
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File:Chest x-ray of bilateral hilar adenopathy of primary pulmonary tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray showing bilateral hilar adenopathy of primary pulmonary TB
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6. '''Linear, interstitial disease ''' (in children only) - Prominence of linear, interstitial (septal) markings.
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File:Kerley B lines of primary tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray showing Kerely B line due to interstitial oedema (in children only) of primary pulmonary tuberculosis.
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7. Other '''Miliary nodules ''' - Any other finding suggestive of active TB, such as miliary TB. Miliary findings are nodules of millet size (1 to 2 millimeters) distributed throughout the parenchyma.
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File:PulmonaryTBCXR.png|[[Miliary tuberculosis]]
The main chest X-ray findings that can suggest inactive TB are:<ref name=cdc/>
1. '''Discrete fibrotic scar or linear opacity—Discrete opacity''' — Discrete linear or reticular densities within the lung. The edges of these densities should be distinct and there should be no suggestion of airspace opacification or haziness between or surrounding these densities. Calcification can be present within the lesion and then the lesion is called a “fibrocalcific” scar.
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File:Chest X-ray of fibrocalcific scar after secondary tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray showing fibrocalcific scar after secondary tuberculosis as air-space opacification or haziness between or surrounding these densities.
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2. '''Discrete nodule(s) without calcification—One calcification''' - One or more nodular densities with distinct borders and without any surrounding airspace opacification. Nodules are generally round or have rounded edges. These features allow them to be distinguished from infiltrates or airspace opacities. To be included here, these nodules must be noncalcified. Nodules that are calcified are included in the category “OTHER X-ray findings, No follow-up needed”.
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File:Chest X-ray of discrete round nodules after secondary tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray showing discrete round nodule(s) with round edges without calcification, after secondary tuberculosis.
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3. '''Discrete fibrotic scar with volume loss or retraction—Discrete retraction''' — Discrete linear densities with reduction in the space occupied by the upper lobe. Associated signs include upward deviation of the fissure or hilum on the corresponding side with asymmetry of the volumes of the two thoracic cavities.
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File:Chest x-ray of distinct fibrotic scar after secondary tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray showing distinct fibrotic scar with volume loss or retraction with an upward deviation of the fissure or hilum on the corresponding side with asymmetry of the volumes of the two thoracic cavities.
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4. '''Discrete nodule(s) with volume loss or retraction—One retraction''' — One or more nodular densities with distinct borders and no surrounding airspace opacification with reduction in the space occupied by the upper lobe. Nodules are generally round or have rounded edges.
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File:Chest x-ray of discrete nodule and volume loss.jpg|Chest x-ray showing nodular densities with distinct borders and no surrounding airspace opacification, with a reduction in the space occupied by the upper lobe.
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5. Other—Any other finding suggestive of prior TB, such as upper '''Upper lobe bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis is bronchial ''' - Bronchial dilation with bronchial wall thickening.
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File:Chest x-ray of bronchiectasis post-primary pulmonary tuberculosis.jpg|Chest x-ray showing course bronchiectasis of the lungs post-primary pulmonary tuberculosis.