Tuberc Respir Dis.  1978 Jun;25(2):63-67. 10.4046/trd.1978.25.2.63.

The Lower Lung Field Tuberculosis

• KMID: 2528922
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1978.25.2.63

Abstract

There were 20 cases (1. 85%) of lower lung field tuberculosis out of 1, 080 active pulmonary tuberculosis during last two years and 7 months from 1975 to 1977 at Kyung Hee Medical center. There were more females than males (2: 1) while the ratio was reverse (1: 1. 3) in total cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. The mean age of the cases was 26.87 years, much younger than the age of total pulmonary tuberculosis cases (34 years). The lesions were located more on the right side than Ieft (12 : 8). However, the cavitary cases were Iocated more on the left side (7 : 1), and their mean age was more younger (22. 89years). The lower lung field lesions were appeared to be rather acute processes (45%were cavitary) with shorter duration of the diseases (60% within 3 months' history), 50% with hemoptic, or 25% with severe respiratory complaints. However, the responses to the chemotherapy were as good as any other fresh active pulmonary tuberculosis cases. About 75 % of the cases showed remarkable improvements and 10% (2 cases) of failures. The defaulter rate was 15%. Among 2 cases of failures, one had a longstand ing with a persisting cavity. This was cured by a lower lobe lobectomy. The other one was proved to be tuberculous bronchiectasis. The lesion remained but the sputum was converted. These results were aIl very simillar with the most opinions previosly reported by various authors except a minor differences in the incidence rate probaly due to the different definitions of the lower lung field and incI usion of inactive diseases. This was defined as the lesion in the lower one third of the lung in this study and incI uded only the sputum positive cases. Some particular points found in this obseration were; the cavitary lesions located predominantly on the left lung and the patient’s ages were much younger than the others.