Radiological sequelae in post tuberculosis patients treated at a tertiary care center in Pakistan: A retrospective study

<b>Background:</b> Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and has a great socio-economic burden on the affected population not only during the ailment but even after the disease has been cured. Post TB sequelae continue to affect the lives of sufferers hence early recognition can facilitate the management. <b>Objectives:</b> To study the radiological sequelae in post TB patients and factors associated with it. <b>Methods:</b> Retrospective study on patients treated for TB at Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan from January 2014 to August 2017. <b>Results:</b> During the study period a total of 541 patients presented to outpatient pulmonology clinics with a mean age of 44 ±19 years. Post treatment chest x-rays were available in 321(59.3%) patients. Out of 321 patients, 82.8% (n=266) had some post TB radiological sequelae. The most frequent abnormalities were fibrocavitatory changes 56.3% (n=150), pleural thickening 30.8% (n=82) and loss of lung volume 12.7% (n=34). Out of 266 patients, 75.9% (n= 202) had unilateral while 24% (n=64) had bilateral abnormalities. The radiological sequelae were significantly high in patients who were AFB smear positive 80.9% (n=98/109), AFB culture positive 89.2% (n=125/140), those who had drug resistant TB 100% (n=21/21) and those who had diabetes mellitus 80.9% (n=34/42). <b>Conclusion:</b> Post-treatment radiological sequelae is very high in our treated TB patients. Treating tuberculosis is not the end of the disease. The comorbidities associated with post TB sequelae continues to cripple the life of the sufferers. Early intervention can reduce morbidity in these patients.