Purpose:

We aimed to reveal the real incidence of the pulmonary tuberculosis infection in our country with this large scaled retrospective study in young Turkish male population.

Material methods:

This study is based on microfilm reports written by radiologists who examined 143221 young men aged 18-26 before enlisting in mandatory military service between 2005 and 2012. According to the configuration, generally, fibronodulary changes were recorded as sequela findings. However mass, mass- like consolidation or infiltrative lesions were regarded as active lesions and they were included as positive for tuberculosis infection. Significant findings for tuberculosis and other incidental findings were recorded and analysed.

Results:

Objective parenchymal- abnormalities found were as follows: pneumonic consolidation (n=61), pleural effusion (n=6), lung atelectasis (n=5), abnormalities indicating sequela to tuberculosis infection (n=53), pulmonary nodule (n=32), parenchymal mass lesion (n=7), hilar mass opacity (n=7) and bronchiectasis (n=16).

Conclusion:

Data from this large scale study showed that 0.12% of the young population still have lesions related to tuberculosis despite the nation-wide efforts to eradicate this disease since 1950s.

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