[Comparison of sputum positive rate between bilateral and unilateral lung tuberculosis]

Comparing sputum smear/culture positive rate between unilateral lung tuberculosis and bilateral ones with similar extent of lesion.

Retrospective review of patients' records in the author's hospital from Jan. 1/2002 to Sep. 30/2003.

In unilateral (N=58) and bilateral (N=82) lung tuberculosis of "Gakkai classification" (= chest X-ray classification of lung tuberculosis according to the Japanese Society for Tuberculosis). II 2 (cavitary lung tuberculosis with moderate extent), positive rates of the initial sputum investigation by smear/Ogawa culture/MGIT were, 84.6% vs. 74.0%/ 88.5% vs. 93.2%/93.5% vs. 97.1%, respectively, and no significant difference was found. Similarly, in Gakkai classification III 1 (non-cavitary lung tuberculosis with minimal extent) and in Gakkai classification III 2 (non-cavitary lung tuberculosis with moderate extent), no significant differences were found in sputum bacilli positive rates between unilateral and bilateral lung tuberculosis.

Sputum smear and culture positive rates of bilateral lung tuberculosis showed no significant differences with that of unilateral one with similar extent.