Pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetics.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is found predominantly in the lung apices. In diabetics it has been suggested that tuberculosis tended to occur predominantly in the lower lobes. A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with a diagnosis of diabetes and pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to a health care facility to determine the presenting chest roentgenographic location of tuberculosis. Multiple lobe involvement was the predominant chest roentgenographic finding in both diabetics and nondiabetics with pulmonary tuberculosis. Since tuberculosis and diabetes frequently coexist in the population at risk for tuberculosis, clinicians should suspect tuberculosis in the diabetic with an abnormality on chest roentgenogram. Aggressive diagnostic measures and specific chemotherapy should be given and monitored to treat pulmonary tuberculosis.