title: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Kabul, Afghanistan: a hospital-based retrospective review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to amplify the knowledge base of the epidemiology, symptoms, and signs of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in Afghanistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of EPTB diagnosed at CURE International Hospital and CURE Family Health Center (FHC) in Kabul, Afghanistan during a recent 20-month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred eighteen cases were identified from patients presenting to the hospital and FHC. This group represents the spectrum of EPTB seen at a single referral center in Kabul. The ratio of females to males was 2.03:1. Lymph node tuberculosis comprised the greatest number of EPTB cases (37.3%, n=44). The central nervous system was the next most frequent site of EPTB involvement (20.3%, n=24), followed in descending order by skeletal, pleural, abdominal, cutaneous, genitourinary, pericardial, miliary, and breast tuberculosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 2:1 ratio of female to male EPTB cases coincides with the unusual epidemiologic pattern seen in smear-positive pulmonary TB in Afghanistan. As the first epidemiological report of EPTB from Afghanistan, this study illustrates the varied presentations of EPTB that should be known by healthcare workers throughout the country.
authors.affiliation: CURE International Hospital, PO Box 621, Darulaman Rd, near King's Palace, Karte-Se, Kabul, Afghanistan.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fader
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: Najeeb Ullah
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: Nasir Ahmad
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Nasir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D020306:Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult