Tuberculosis of the Lower Lung Field

Summary: Pulmonary tuberculosis in adults is typically localised in the apices of the lungs. Lower lung field tuberculosis, although uncommon, is a well recognised entity which still occurs in countries with low or high prevalence of tuberculosis. Six patients with lower lung field tuberculosis, seen at the University of Papua New Guinea hospital over a period of one year, are described in this report. All six were Melanesian with a mean age of 32 years. Five were female. Fever, productive cough, pleuritic chest pain and localised crepitant rales over the affected area of the lungs were the most common clinical findings. Duration of symptoms prior to hospitalisation ranged from two to 12 months (mean: eight months). Four patients had haemoptysis. Right lung was affected more often than the left. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was delayed in four patients owing to the atypical localisation of the pulmonary infiltrates and to the absence of acid fast bacilli in the first three sputum smears. Lower lung field tuberculosis occurs more commonly in young females, affects the right lung more often and is associated with haemoptysis, early cavitation and hilar lymphadenopathy. Atypical location of the infiltrate may result in mis‐diagnosis as lobar pneumonia, lung abscess or carcinoma of the lung.