Retrospective Analyzes of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Cases

Abstract

AIMTo analyze demographic and clinical characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis(EPTB) cases retrospectively.BACKGROUNDEPTB may affect all organs also the lungs and presents with a wide range of symptoms, making diagnosis challenging.METHODA retrospective analysis was conducted on adult EPTB-diagnosed patients at Bezmialem Vakıf University from 2013 to 2024. Data on patient demographics, clinical presentations, diagnostic methods, and outcomes were analyzed.RESULTSAmong 249 patients, 89(35.7%) were male, and 160(64.3%) were female. The mean age of male patients was 44.1±19.8 years, while female patients had a mean age of 45.9±15.8 years. 10.8% of the patients were foreign nationalities. Previous exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis was present in 7.6% of patients, and 6.8% had history of previous TB infection. EPTB involvement was as follows: lymph nodes in 107(43.0%), pleura in 19(7.6%), other in 24(9.6%), urogenital system in 17(6.8%), sykeletal system in 29(11.6%), central nervous system in 19(7.6%), peritoneum in 24(9.6%), and skin in 10(4.0%). Cervical lymph nodes were the most frequently affected region, observed in 48 cases (19.3%). Acid-fast bacilli were identified in 13(5.2%) of 141 samples, Mycobacterium tuberculosis grew in culture of 57(22.9%) of 148 samples, and the polymerase chain reaction was positive for tuberculosis in 21(8.4%) of 84 samples. QuantiFERON was positive in 18.9% of patients.CONCLUSİONFor diagnosing EPTB, it\"s essential to maintain a high level of clinical suspicion and to use a combination of diagnostic methods, including mycobacterial culture and PCR and also pathological examination.