Patterns of request and radiographic findings in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in a secondary healthcare center in Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a major public health problem globally with relatively high morbidity and mortality rates. Chest radiography plays a key role in describing the patterns of appearances which help in predicting treatment progress. In this study, we evaluated the patterns of radiographic findings among patients diagnosed with PTB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of clinical and chest radiographic features of PTB in 105 patients. All the radiographs were reported by a consultant radiologist. The age, gender, clinical presentation, nature and location of the lung changes, and diagnosis were recorded. Descriptive statistics were employed in analysing mean ± standard deviation, percentages, and frequencies. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22.0. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 3:2 with 58.1% (n = 61) male and 41.9% (n = 44) female. The average age of the patients was 36.29 ± 15.95 years with 21–30 years age group most affected. Fibrocavitatory changes alone were the most common finding and the majority of the lung changes involved the entire both lungs. CONCLUSION: Fibrocavitatory changes and involvement of the entire both lungs were found to be the common radiographic findings of patients diagnosed with PTB. Age group 21–30 years was most commonly affected.