Clinical and radiographic manifestations

Radiological imaging is important when NTM lung disease is suspected. The broad range of radiological patterns seen in NTM lung disease includes bronchiectasis, nodular lesions, cavitary lesions, and parenchymal consolidation. 

NTM lung disease has two major manifestations: fibro cavitary and nodular bronchiectasis forms.
•     The fibro cavitary form resembles pulmonary TB and typically affects elderly men with underlying lung disease. It tends to cause thin-walled cavities, often involving the pleura without lymph node calcification, no atelectasis, and usually progresses more slowly than pulmonary TB.
•     The nodular bronchiectasis form shows bilateral, multilobar bronchiectasis, especially in the middle and lower lung fields, with small nodules on chest radiography and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).