OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis (TB) can sometimes present with consolidation in the lower lung field. This study was conducted to compare the manifestations of lower-lung-field TB (LLFTB) and other pulmonary TB. DESIGN: All new culture-proven TB patients with lower-lung-field consolidation from July 2001 through December 2002 were included. Age- and sex-matched TB patients with upper lung involvement were selected as controls. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients with LLFTB were included. Their mean age was 58.8 years; 46 were male. The clinical, radiographic and laboratory findings were similar in the LLFTB and the control groups, except that the LLFTB patients had less cavitation (P = 0.005). Patients with LLFTB were diagnosed (P = 0.051) and treated (P = 0.001) later than the control patients. The calibres of the trachea and both main bronchi were significantly smaller in the LLFTB group (P < 0.001). More patients with LLFTB developed segmental or lobar atelectasis during follow-up (P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The manifestations of LLFTB are non-specific. The lower-lung involvement, the lower incidence of cavitation and the higher probability of segmental or lobar atelectasis implied that LLFTB was primary TB. A small bronchial calibre probably contributed to its development.
OBJECTIVE:Tuberculosis (TB) can sometimes present with consolidation in the lower lung field. This study was conducted to compare the manifestations of lower-lung-field TB (LLFTB) and other pulmonary TB. DESIGN: All new culture-proven TB patients with lower-lung-field consolidation from July 2001 through December 2002 were included. Age- and sex-matched TB patients with upper lung involvement were selected as controls. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients with LLFTB were included. Their mean age was 58.8 years; 46 were male. The clinical, radiographic and laboratory findings were similar in the LLFTB and the control groups, except that the LLFTBpatients had less cavitation (P = 0.005). Patients with LLFTB were diagnosed (P = 0.051) and treated (P = 0.001) later than the control patients. The calibres of the trachea and both main bronchi were significantly smaller in the LLFTB group (P < 0.001). More patients with LLFTB developed segmental or lobar atelectasis during follow-up (P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The manifestations of LLFTB are non-specific. The lower-lung involvement, the lower incidence of cavitation and the higher probability of segmental or lobar atelectasis implied that LLFTB was primary TB. A small bronchial calibre probably contributed to its development.
Authors: Khalid M Dousa; Abdelrahman Hamad; Mohamed Albirair; Hussam Al Soub; Abdel-Naser Elzouki; Mahmoud I Alwakeel; Bonnie A Thiel; John L Johnson Journal: Open Forum Infect Dis Date: 2018-12-19 Impact factor: 3.835
Authors: Nadia Nilda Barreda; Maria B Arriaga; Juan Gonzalo Aliaga; Kattya Lopez; Oswaldo Martin Sanabria; Thomas A Carmo; José F Fróes Neto; Leonid Lecca; Bruno B Andrade; Roger I Calderon Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2020-02-14 Impact factor: 3.090