Assessment of non-tuberculosis abnormalities on digital chest x-rays with high CAD4TB scores from a tuberculosis prevalence survey in Zambia and South Africa

BMC Infectious Diseases

Research

Adrian Maleya¹  Given Moonga²  Dennis Ngosa²  Choolwe Jacobs²  Sarah Fidler³  Linda Mureithi⁴  Sian Floyd⁵  Maria Ruperez⁵  Eveline Klinkenberg⁶  Veronica Sichizya⁷  Nkatya Kasese⁸  Ab Schaap⁸  Kwame Shanaube⁸  Helen Ayles⁹ 

[1] Apex Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia;Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia;Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK;Health Systems Trust, Cape Town, South Africa;London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;Department of Global Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands;University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia;Zambia Aids Related Tuberculosis (ZAMBART), Lusaka, Zambia;Zambia Aids Related Tuberculosis (ZAMBART), Lusaka, Zambia;London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK;

关键词: Prevalence;    Computer-aided detection;    Non-TB abnormalities;    Digital chest X-rays;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-023-08460-0

 received in 2023-03-20, accepted in 2023-07-14,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundChest X-rays (CXRs) have traditionally been used to aid the diagnosis of TB-suggestive abnormalities. Using Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) algorithms, TB risk is quantified to assist with diagnostics. However, CXRs capture all other structural abnormalities. Identification of non-TB abnormalities in individuals with CXRs that have high CAD scores but don’t have bacteriologically confirmed TB is unknown. This presents a missed opportunity of extending novel CAD systems’ potential to simultaneously provide information on other non-TB abnormalities alongside TB. This study aimed to characterize and estimate the prevalence of non-TB abnormalities on digital CXRs with high CAD4TB scores from a TB prevalence survey in Zambia and South Africa.MethodologyThis was a cross-sectional analysis of clinical data of participants from the TREATS TB prevalence survey conducted in 21 communities in Zambia and South Africa. The study included individuals aged ≥ 15 years who had high CAD4TB scores (score ≥ 70), but had no bacteriologically confirmed TB in any of the samples submitted, were not on TB treatment, and had no history of TB. Two consultant radiologists reviewed the images for non-TB abnormalities.ResultsOf the 525 CXRs reviewed, 46.7% (245/525) images were reported to have non-TB abnormalities. About 11.43% (28/245) images had multiple non-TB abnormalities, while 88.67% (217/245) had a single non-TB abnormality. The readers had a fair inter-rater agreement (r = 0.40). Based on anatomical location, non-TB abnormalities in the lung parenchyma (19%) were the most prevalent, followed by Pleura (15.4%), then heart & great vessels (6.1%) abnormalities. Pleural effusion/thickening/calcification (8.8%) and cardiomegaly (5%) were the most prevalent non-TB abnormalities. Prevalence of (2.7%) for pneumonia not typical of pulmonary TB and (2.1%) mass/nodules (benign/ malignant) were also reported.ConclusionA wide range of non-TB abnormalities can be identified on digital CXRs among individuals with high CAD4TB scores but don’t have bacteriologically confirmed TB. Adaptation of AI systems like CAD4TB as a tool to simultaneously identify other causes of abnormal CXRs alongside TB can be interesting and useful in non-faculty-based screening programs to better link cases to appropriate care.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 1

Fig. 7

Fig. 7

Fig. 2