Spectrum of Radiological Findings in Pulmonary Tuberculosis- A Tertiary Care Hospital-based Retrospective Descriptive Study

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a worldwide public health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. Tuberculosis can manifest in active and latent forms. Improving the diagnosis, treatment, and screening of tuberculosis is crucial for effective tuberculosis control. Chest X-ray and Computed Tomography chest play a vital role in diagnosing and screening for tuberculosis. Aim: To analyse the spectrum of radiological findings in pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: The present retrospective descriptive study was conducted at a teritary care hospital in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The data of 160 patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis between January 2019 and December 2020 were accessed and analysed. The recorded variables included forms of pulmonary tuberculosis, age/gender distribution, co-morbidities, Acid-fast Bacillus (AFB) smear status, and radiological findings and distribution. Descriptive statistics are presented in frequency and percentage. Results: Among the 160 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 30 (18.75%) cases were active primary tuberculosis, 105 (65.63%) cases were active post-primary tuberculosis, and 25 (15.62%) cases were inactive tuberculosis. Among the 30 cases of active primary tuberculosis, 14 (46.67%) cases had consolidation with air bronchogram, and 6 (20%) cases had consolidation without air bronchogram. Among the 105 cases of active post-primary tuberculosis, 65 (61.9%) cases had consolidation, 50 (47.62%) cases had cavities, and 56 (81.9%) cases had centrilobular nodules with a tree-in-bud appearance. Among the 25 cases of inactive tuberculosis, 18 (72%) cases had fibrosis with bronchiectasis, while 4 (16%) cases had fibrosis without bronchiectasis, and 3 (12%) cases had calcified granulomas. Conclusion: The study conclusively demonstrates the diverse radiological manifestations of pulmonary tuberculosis in different patient demographics. It highlights a higher incidence of active post-primary tuberculosis, especially in patients above 45 years, with varying radiological findings such as consolidation, cavitation, and fibrosis.