Radiological Findings in Sputum Positive and Sputum Negative Tuberculous Infected Patients: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Tuberculous infection is a long term chest spoiling which is initiated by mycobacterial bacilli. Tuberculosis implants in higher than the one third from all cases of passing in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and it causes infection in about one third over the world. Those best and the majority conclusive system in the finding from claiming lung tuberculous infection is sputum sample, also Ziehl Neelsen staining for a few successive samples. For smear negative furthermore actually smear positive cases, radiographic features would supportive clinched alongside illness finding.

Aim of this study: This study need been carried to look at radio-logical findings done for sputum positive, also sputum negative tuberculosis patients.

Patients and Methods: This cross sectional ponder might have been conveyed out in Baghdad teaching hospital in respiratory specialized clinic in about 1st of January to September of 2016 .there are 79 patients were enrolled in this study that diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis according to WHO criteria for diagnosis of pulmonary TB in which 52 patients were diagnosed as sputum positive TB and 27 patients diagnosed as sputum negative but culture positive  all the participant in this study should have postero-anterior chest x-ray and should be interpreted by at least two specialized radiological professional independently and sputum smear examined by bacteriologist expert  .

Results: In our study the chest x-ray finding (calcification, hilar lymphadenopathy, apical infiltrations, mediastinal widening, bronchiectasis and cavity) more visible findings in sputum positive patients than sputum negative pulmonary TB, which are statistically significant P value <0.05.While (reticulonodular infiltrations, lung fibrosis, pleural effusion and miliary shadowing) are more visible findings in sputum negative patients than sputum positive lung TB patients which are statistically insignificant P value >.05.

Conclusions: the chest x-ray finding (calcification, hilar lymphadenopathy, apical infiltrations, mediastinal widening, bronchiectasis and cavity) more visible findings in sputum positive patients than sputum negative pulmonary TB, While (reticulonodular infiltrations, lung fibrosis, pleural effusion and miliary shadowing) are more visible findings in sputum negative.

Keywords tuberculosis (TB),  sputum negative, sputum positive.