Evaluation of the radiological sequelae after treatment completion in new cases of pulmonary, pleural, and mediastinal tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Residual radiological lesions may persist even after successful treatment of tuberculosis. There is insufficient data as to the nature and magnitude of these opacities in the treated cases of tuberculosis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the nature and magnitude of residual radiological opacities and of complete radiological resolution in new successfully treated cases of tuberculosis. DESIGN: Four hundred and forty one new cases of pulmonary, pleural or mediastinal tuberculosis were radiologically evaluated by chest x-ray, PA view, at the start and end of a successful treatment, which was as per the World Health Organization (WHO), Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP), and Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course (DOTS) guidelines. Patients with a previous history of tuberculosis or other lung conditions, treatment failure, retreatment cases, and multidrug tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases were excluded. RESULTS: Residual x-ray lesions were seen in 178 cases of tuberculosis (40.36%). Complete radiological resolution was seen in 263 cases (59.64%). Of the residual lesions, 67.4% were parenchymal were parenchymal in nature, 23.59% were pleural lesions and 8.99% were mediastinal lesions. Out of the 126 sputum-positive cases, 70% (n = 88)had residual lesions on chest x-ray whereas of the 315 sputum-negative cases 28.5%, (n = 99) had radiological residual lesions. CONCLUSION: Residual radiological opacities are seen in a large proportion of treated cases of tuberculosis (40%). Pulmonary lesions show more residual lesions (67%) than pleural (23%) and mediastinal lesions (9%).