Chest radiographic findings in Human Immunodeficiency Virus disease in Benin City, Nigeria.

This study was carried out to determine findings on chest radiographs in HIV positive/AIDS patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin City. All consecutive HIV positive/AIDS patients, managed at the UBTH between 1991 and 2001 were included in the study. Patients had postero-anterior (PA) chest radiographs done in full inspiration, with a Roentgen 301 radiographic machine (GEC Medical) using the following factors; KVp = 65, focus-film distance = 150cm and 12 – 15mAs. A total of 308 confirmed HIV- positive patients had chest radiographic examinations. Ninety-nine (32.14%) patients had normal findings, while 209 (67.86%) were abnormal. Abnormal findings included, cardiomegaly, 84 (27.27%) patients; radiological features of cardiac failure, 44 (14.28%) patients; lung cavitations, 47 (15.4%) patients; pleural effusions, 40 (13.09%) patients, fibrocystic changes, 40 (13.09%) patients, lobar consolidation, 29 (09.52%) patients, non-specific (atypical) infiltrates 70 (22.62%) patients, and hilar-adenopathy 7 (02.38%) patients. Soft tissue wasting was seen in 47 (15.25%) patients. Chest radiography remains a good instrument for detecting pulmonary and cardiovascular abnormalities even in HIV positive/AIDS patients Keywords: HIV/AIDS patients, Chest radiographic findings Annals of Biomedical Science Vol. 1 (2) 2002: pp. 131-13