Few studies have compared the clinical and radiographic findings of tuberculomas 
to those of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) caused by Mycobacterium avium 
complex (MAC). We retrospectively analyzed clinical and radiographic findings 
from 26 patients with tuberculomas and 15 patients with SPNs caused by MAC. 
Median SPN size was 22 mm. In 26 patients (63%), the SPN was detected during a 
routine health checkup or evaluation of organs other than lungs. Patients with 
SPNs due to MAC were slightly older (median = 59 years) compared with those with 
tuberculomas (median = 50 years; P = 0.044). When we compared computed 
tomography (CT) features between patients with tuberculomas and patients with 
MAC, no significant differences were found in SPN location or the presence of 
calcification, cavitation, central low attenuation, and the satellite lesions. 
Although the maximum standardized uptake values were slightly higher in patients 
with SPNs due to MAC (median = 8.5) compared with those with tuberculomas 
(median = 2.2), this difference was not significant (P = 0.053). Of the 15 
patients with SPNs due to MAC, 10 were initially diagnosed with "tuberculoma" 
and administered antituberculosis medication. MAC pulmonary disease should be 
considered in the differential diagnosis of SPNs, even when encountered in 
geographic regions with a high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis.