Pulmonary TB: Varying radiological presentations in individuals with HIV in Soweto, South Africa

Background: HIV-uninfected individuals with pulmonary TB (PTB) commonly present with radiological features of upper lobe cavitatory disease. In contrast, individuals with HIV and PTB may present differently. This study compared radiological features of individuals with laboratory-confirmed PTB by HIV status from the largest study in South Africa. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adults recruited between 2012 and 2015 with laboratory-confirmed PTB in Soweto, South Africa. Baseline characteristics and chest radiograph (CXR) findings were compared by χ2 test stratified by HIV status. Results: Of the 474 individuals with PTB, 348 (73.4%) had HIV. Individuals with HIV had a higher proportion of infiltrates (58.9% vs 46.8%, p=0.02) and a lower proportion of cavitations (40.8% vs 68.3%; p<0.0001) compared to HIV-uninfected individuals. Additionally, individuals with HIV had a lower proportion of cavitations sized ≥4 cm (16.7% vs 36.5%, p<0.001) and a lower proportion of disease extent involving half or more of the total lung area radiologically (25.9% vs 45.3%, p<0.0001). Conclusions: Individuals with HIV co-infected with PTB have a higher proportion of infiltrates and a lower proportion of cavitations relative to the HIV-uninfected PTB individuals. The absence of classical upper lobe cavitatory disease on CXR does not exclude PTB in individuals with HIV.