title: An appraisal of the radiological features of pulmonary tuberculosis in Ilorin.
abstract: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains a disease of serious socio-economic and public health importance in Nigeria. This study was carried out to appraise its radiological features with the aim of identifying any changes or new patterns. The chest radiographs of PTB patients examined in the radiology department, UITH, Ilorin over a 5-year period from January 1995 to December 1999 were studied. There were 423 patients including 47 children (0-14 years). Adults of working age (21-60 years) were more affected. There was a female preponderance. The most common radiological features were cavity formation, streaky opacities, reticulonodular opacities and nodular opacities. These features often occurred together in same patients and more usually bilaterally. However, where cavity formation was unilateral, it was more on the left side. In childhood disease, hilar lymphadenopathy, bronchopneumonia and pleural fluid collection were the most common. Cavity formation in children was equally frequent in the 0-5 years and the 6-10 years age groups. The chest radiograph remains an important tool in the diagnosis of PTB. The major radiological features remain the same but the patterns of sex distribution and cavity formation are probably changing. Key words: Pulmonary tuberculosis; radiological features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Erinle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*