Evaluation of Lung Diseases among Smokers Using conventional chest x-ray Computerised Tomography

Abstract

The objective of the study was to identify percentage of smokers who developed chest diseases also to identify the role of chest X-ray and chest computed tomography in diagnosis and classification of chest diseases among smokers; study conducted at radiology department at Nilin medical center, Modern medical center, Ibn alhaitham diagnostic center and soba university hospital-khartoum from July 2011 to October 2011. The study composed of random sample of 50 patient; 40 males and 10 females their ages ranges from 15 to 80 years old who were smoking are chosen. Chest X-ray and Computed tomography of the chest were done to demonstrate smoking related complications and other chest diseases that affect smokers. The study showed that most affected age group is between 40-60 years, all patients had cough as clinical manifestation, most chest x-rays was normal 48%, most CT chest were showing bronchiectasis 48% and most interpretations were inconclusive diagnosis 40%. The study concluded that there were main role of CT and chest x-ray in diagnosis and classification of chest diseases among smokers chest x-ray alone especially in short period smokers is mostly unsuitable in order to differentiate between normal and early pathological development . The study recommended that any smoker above 40 years should have annual low dose chest CT to detect any possible small lesions caused by smoking.