Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: The study was undertaken to describe the radiographic findings of primary pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in previously healthy adolescent patients. Materials and Methods: Two independent examiners had examined the chest radiographs of 100 participants who had the same TB strains. Typical TB was defined as nodule(s), consolidation, or cavitation-like lesions in the upper lung zones. Atypical TB was defined as having lesions of nodule(s), consolidation, or cavitation in lower lung zones, as well as pleural effusion. Results: Cavitary lesions were present in 69(69%) students. Pleural effusion was observed in 1 patient, mediastinal lymph node enlargement was also seen in 1 patient. Hilar lymph node enlargement was seen in only 9 subjects (9%). Lesions with upper lung zone predominance were observed in 69 (69%) patients. Bilateral involvement of lung lesions was observed in 17(17%) patients. Overall, 46 (46%) students had the typical form of reactivation TB and 19 (19%) had TB lesions of the atypical form, based on chest radiograph findings. Conclusion: The most common radiographic features in primary pulmonary TB by recent infection in previously healthy teenagers are upper lung lesions, which were long thought to represent radiographic markers of reactivation pulmonary TB by remote infection.