Comparison the Radiologic Findings of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among HIV-Seropositive With HIV-Seronegative Patients

Background: Approximately 1.8 million of the world’s population is infected with both M.tuberculosis (TB) and HIV. HIV-seropositive patients with TB may have radiographically atypical presentations. Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether there was any difference in radiological presentation of pulmonary TB between HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients. Patients and Methods: Information on 204 patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of pulmonary TB to the infectious ward of Razi Hospital, Ahvaz, between 2004 and 2008 was obtained from their records. They were divided into HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative groups. All clinical signs and symptoms and radiological findings were extracted from each patient file and recorded in a questionnaire. Results: Normal thoracic radiography, pleural effusion, milliary pattern, and hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy were more common in the HIV-seropositive group. Pulmonary infiltration and cavitary lesions in Chest X-ray (CXR) were more frequent in the HIV-seronegative group. The prevalence of fibrosis in HIV-seronegative patients was higher than in HIV-seropositive subjects. Upper lobe pulmonary involvement in HIV-seropositive patients was less frequent than HIV-seronegative persons due to their immunodeficiency. Conclusions: Radiological presentation of pulmonary TB differs between HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients due to progressive immunodeficiency from HIV infection.