Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30678651›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2019

Sub-clinical abnormalities detected by PET/MRI in household tuberculosis contacts.

James S Molton, Benjamin A Thomas, Yan Pang, Lih Kin Khor, James Hallinan, Claire M Naftalin, John J Totman, David W Townsend, Tow Keang Lim, Cynthia Bin Eng Chee and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The role of medical imaging in translational research into early pulmonary tuberculosis.International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases · 2026
    Review
  2. CT andInsights into imaging · 2022
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

James S MoltonUniversity Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Benjamin A ThomasA*STAR-NUS Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
Yan PangUniversity Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Lih Kin KhorDepartment of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
James HallinanDepartment of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Claire M NaftalinDepartment of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
John J TotmanA*STAR-NUS Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
David W TownsendA*STAR-NUS Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
Tow Keang LimUniversity Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Cynthia Bin Eng CheeTuberculosis Control Unit, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Yee Tang WangTuberculosis Control Unit, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Nicholas I PatonUniversity Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore. nick_paton@nuhs.edu.sg.
National University Health System · SGA*STAR-NUS Clinical Imaging Research Centre · SGNational University of Singapore · SGTan Tock Seng Hospital · SG

Funding

National Medical Research Council NMRC/CG/013/2013National University of Singapore Startup Grant
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe understanding of early events following TB exposure is limited by traditional tests that rely on detection of an immune response to infection, which is delayed, or on imaging tests with low sensitivity for early disease. We investigated for evidence of lung abnormalities in heavily exposed TB contacts using PET/MRI.

methods30 household contacts of 20 index patients underwent clinical assessment, IGRA testing, chest x-ray and PET/MRI scan using 18-F-FDG. MRI images were examined by a radiology/nuclear medicine dual-qualified physician using a standardised report form, while PET/MRI images were examined independently by another radiology/nuclear medicine dual-qualified physician using a similar form. Standardised uptake value (SUV) was quantified for each abnormal lesion.

resultsIGRA was positive in 40%. PET/MRI scan was abnormal in 30%, predominantly FDG uptake in hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes and lung apices. We did not identify any relationship between PET/MRI findings and degree of exposure or IGRA status.

conclusionPET-based imaging may provide important insights into the natural history following exposure to TB that may not be available from traditional tests of TB immune response or imaging. The clinical significance of the abnormalities is uncertain and merits further investigation in longitudinal studies.

Indexed as

AdultAgedContact TracingFamily CharacteristicsFemaleFluorodeoxyglucose F18HumansLymph NodesMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedPositron-Emission TomographyRadiopharmaceuticalsTuberculosis, PulmonaryYoung AdultFluorodeoxyglucose F18RadiopharmaceuticalsExposureMRIPET-scanTuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID30678651
PMCPMC6346497
OpenAlexW2944474098

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.