Journal article
Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: Characteristics and potential implementation
PLoS One, Vol.20(6), pp.1-12
2025
PMCID: PMC12185021
PMID: 40549769
Abstract
Background
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are pulmonary pathogens with increasing incidence and prevalence worldwide, with people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) traditionally considered at high risk of disease development. The imaging assessment of NTM-pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) relies heavily on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). However, due to lengthy treatment regimens and the need for long-term follow-up, serial HRCT’s result in progressive exposure to ionizing radiation; a particular concern in younger people.
Methods
We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who had undergone serial thoracic magnetic resonance imaging (tMRI) scans to monitor NTM-PD as a novel tool to image the lung with a view to creating an algorithm for the utility of tMRI in the management of NTM-PD.
Results
Thirty-six patients, of which twenty-four had a diagnosis of CF, with suspected or confirmed NTM-PD underwent serial tMRI between 1st January 2013 and 30th June 2018. A total of 117 serial tMRI’s were performed (mean number per patient 3.25; range 2–6). The associated clinical impact that each serial MRI had on management, deemed as the utility of tMRI, found that all tMRI’s were classified as aiding management with 60 (51.3%) altering management. tMRI’s were more likely to alter management in the non-CF cohort than the CF cohort (69.4% vs. 43.2%). No imaging-related adverse events were reported across the 117 tMRI’s.
Conclusion
This study highlights that tMRI may hold promise as a monitoring tool in NTM-PD and should be prospectively evaluated in the monitoring of individuals with NTM-PD.
Details
- Title
- Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: Characteristics and potential implementation
- Authors
- Ieuan Edward Shepherd Evans (Corresponding Author) - The University of QueenslandTimothy Baird - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringCharles S. Haworth - Papworth HospitalChristopher Johnson - Papworth HospitalHelen Barker - Papworth HospitalUta Hill - Papworth HospitalDorothy Grogono - Papworth HospitalOdiri Eneje - Papworth HospitalNicholas Screaton - Papworth HospitalAndres Floto - University of Cambridge
- Publication details
- PLoS One, Vol.20(6), pp.1-12
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0325347
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- PMID
- 40549769; PMC12185021
- Copyright note
- © 2025 Evans et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Data Availability
- All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991144502502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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