Background

• The Population with malignancy is growing worldwide.
• TB remains most common infectious disease worldwide that leads to high mortality.
• The relationship between TB and cancer is of dual nature. Patients with malignant diseases are at increased risk for diseases caused by mycobacteria. Patients with depressed cellular immunity such as those who have cancer, transplant patients and patients on immunosuppressive therapy are at particular risk.
• The risk of TB in patients with malignancy is due to immunosuppression from the cancer itself or from the chemotherapy.
• The incidence of pulmonary TB has been therefore reportedly increasing in patients with cancer in both pulmonary and non pulmonary cancers.
• The incidence of TB in cancer patients is also increasing annually from 3% to 23 % in 2022.
• Patients with diabetes, HIV, and cancer patients and persons on corticosteroid frequently present with lower zone tuberculosis.
• It affects females more commonly as compared to males and tuberculosis should be looked in females with lower lung field lesions.
• Cough is the most frequent presentation of lower zone TB as compared to upper zone TB.
• In immunocompromised patients, isolated lower lung field were involved in almost 23.3% patients.

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Dr Syeda Hafsa Hakeem

First Year Resident in Department of Pulmonary Medicine

Dr VRK Womens Medical College, Teaching Hospital & Research Centre