[Limits of chest X-ray investigation in the diagnosis of recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the usefulness of chest X-ray investigation for early diagnosis of recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis.


OBJECTIVE
Patients who start re-treatment at Fukujuji Hospital from 1993 to 2003 due to the recurrence of lung tuberculosis after the completion of standard chemotherapy.


METHODS
Chart review.


RESULTS
Deterioration of chest X-ray was not observed in 19.5% (8/41) of recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis, and in 4 cases even improvement of chest X-ray finding was observed. Sensitivity of chest X-ray in all recurrent cases was around 80 %, and this figure did not increase in smear positive recurrent cases. Sensitivity of chest X-ray for symptomatic recurrent cases was 92.3%, and that for non-symptomatic recurrent cases 60.0%, which is significantly lower than that for symptomatic cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Sensitivity of chest X-ray for early diagnosis of recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis is not very high, and bacteriological examinations are more important irrespective of chest X-ray finding. Especially in non-symptomatic recurrent cases, usefulness of chest X-ray is considerably limited. Method and necessity of regular follow-up in non-symptomatic persons after successful tuberculosis chemotherapy should be re-considered.
Ito
Kunihiko
K
Department of Research, Research Institute of Tuberculosis, JATA, 3-1-24, Matsuyama, Kiyose-shi, Tokyo 204-8533 Japan. ito@jata.or.jp
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012008:Recurrence; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology