Radiographic

Pulmonary tuberculosis remains a significant health issue in Nigeria, particularly in areas with scarce resources. In these settings, delayed diagnosis often leads to wider disease spread and patients presenting with more severe symptoms. In this study, we reviewed the records of 350 adult PTB patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital to identify patterns in their demographics, presenting symptoms, and chest Xray findings. We also aimed to compare doctors’ clinical suspicions with radiographic evidence. The average age of patients was 47 years, with men accounting for roughly two-thirds of the sample. Cough was the most frequent symptom, affecting just over half of the patients. Doctors suspected TB in about one-third of cases, while fever was present in around a quarter. On chest X-rays, fibro-cavitary changes were most common (31.1%), followed by cavitations (17.4%) and fibro-nodular opacities (16.9%), typically located in the upper lung lobes. Clinical suspicion by doctors detected most cases (sensitivity 79.1%), but was less effective at excluding non-TB cases (specificity 34.8%). Nevertheless, there was a significant association between clinical suspicion and X-ray findings (p = 0.005). These results highlight the need for improved early detection strategies. Integrating clinical assessment with radiographic and microbiological testing will enhance TB control efforts and lead to better patient outcomes.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis typically more common in low economic communities has shown a resurgence in non-endemic populations in recent years, a phenomenon that has been attributed to factors such as increased migration and the HIV epidemic. Pulmonary tuberculosis is a disseminated disease (likely to progress and spread from the lungs to involve other organs and systems, e.g the cardiac and the CNS), hence timely diagnosis of the disease is paramount. So it is important that radiologists and clinicians understand the typical distribution, patterns, and clinical manifestations of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. A retrospective study of clinical and chest radiographic features of all 331 Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) patients diagnosed within june, 2024 and june, 2025 was carried out. at the end of the study analysis indicated a male predominance (63%) with a mean age of 48 years. Clinical symptoms like cough were most common (52%) but had low specificity for TB diagnosis. Radiographic findings revealed advanced disease, with fibro-cavitary changes in 31.4% and upper lobe involvement in 90.6% of cases. Clinical suspicion had a sensitivity of 78.6% but a specificity of only 36.1%, limiting its diagnostic accuracy. The study shows both the benefits and limitations associated with reliance on clinical manifestations of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) alone before further diagnosis and encourages combining clinical assessment with routine chest X-rays and improved diagnostic protocols for early and more accurate Tuberculosis detection

Patient perception of radiography students’ participation during radiographic examinations plays a vital role in shaping the quality of clinical training and overall radiography education. This study assessed patients’ perception of radiography students’ involvement during radiographic procedures in selected health facilities in Benin City, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 174 patients, of which 170 were valid for analysis, yielding a 97.7% response rate. Stratified random sampling ensured representativeness, and data were x analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means) and chi-square tests were used to examine associations between socio-demographic factors and patient perceptions. Findings revealed that 54% of patients expressed a negative perception of radiography students’ participation, while 46% had positive views. The overall mean score of 2.4 (below the 2.5 cut-off) indicated a generally unfavorable perception. However, consistent with some previous studies, patients acknowledged the importance of student involvement for professional training and accepted their presence when adequate supervision was provided. Concerns were noted regarding students’ competence, communication, and maintenance of privacy, aligning with earlier research highlighting the need for reassurance and professionalism in student-patient
interactions. The study concludes that although patients demonstrated a cautious and moderately negative perception of radiography students’ participation, effective supervision and improved communication could enhance patient comfort and acceptance. It is recommended that radiography departments strengthen supervision, ensure informed patient consent, and emphasize empathy, respect, and professionalism in clinical training to promote positive patient experiences and support student learning.