Prevalence of X-Ray Findings of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, in Known Cases of Spinal Tuberculosis at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital

Tuberculosis is a critical issue of public-health concern in the high-burden countries, and spinal tuberculosis is one of the most devastating forms of extra pulmonary disease. Aspiring pulmonary involvement can be either clinically unrecognized or under-recognized in patients who present with spinal disease as their predominant feature. Objective: To find out the distribution and frequency of chest X-ray results that indicate any existence of pulmonary tuberculosis infection in known spinal tuberculosis and to compare the results with those obtained in symptomatic patients with no spinal tuberculosis. Study Design: Cross-sectional comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Radiology Department, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore, from 4th July 2025 to 3rd October 2025, after the study protocol was approved. Methodology: It included 64 adults between the ages of 25-55 that had been diagnosed with Pott's disease and 32 symptomatic controls that had no spinal tuberculosis. Typical and atypical features of pulmonary tuberculosis were examined using chest radiographs. The SPSS was used to analyze demographic and other characteristics, symptoms, leukocyte count and previous history of tuberculosis, sputum smear and radiographic outcomes of the patient. Results: The mean age was 40.1 +/- 8.6 years. The results of chest X-rays characteristic of pulmonary tuberculosis were found in 14/32 spinal tuberculosis patients (43.8% versus 4/32 controls (12.5%)) with a significant correlation (p=0.011). The most frequent abnormality was upper-zone infiltrates/nodules, then came the pleural effusion and cavitary disease. Past history of tuberculosis, elevated leukocyte count and positive sputum smear were important determinants of X-ray positive results. Conclusion: A significantly higher number of patients with spinal tuberculosis demonstrated findings in their chest X-ray indicative of pulmonary tuberculosis. The assessment of spinal tuberculosis should include a regular chest radiograph screening to aid in the early diagnosis, control of the infection as well as combined antituberculus treatment.