Lower-lung-field tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia

One hundred sixty-one patients were found to have lower-lung tuberculosis in a retrospective study of 1566 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to Sahary Chest Hospital, Riyadh. This represents 10.3% of the total admissions over a period of four years. Lowerlung-filed tuberculosis is more common in females. Twenty-six percent of the patients had previous antitubercular treatment. Sputum conversion took 40.4 days. Average hospital stay was 50 days. Hemoptysis was found in 46% of cases and diabetes mellitus was discovered in 13%. Chest x-ray studies showed right lung involvement in 46% of cases, bilateral involvement in 29%, and left lung involvement in 25% of cases. A cavitary lesions was found in 49%