Tuberculosis in the Aboriginal: a Radiological Perspective

ABSTRACTA review was carried out of the X‐rays of 434 notified cases of active tuberculosis from the Darwin Region of the Northern Territory for the period from January 1969 to December 1983.More than fifty per cent were Aboriginal although they form only twenty per cent of the population.Pulmonary disease was the most common form in both races. Primary manifestations and generalised involvement of the lungs were found only in Aboriginal patients. There was a significant number of patients with glandular tuberculosis but radiological interest was confined to three Aboriginal patients who presented as appendicitis, pyloro‐duodenal obstruction and splenic calcification. Spinal tuberculosis was uncommon and the radiological manifestations of spinal abscess and paraplegia were also restricted to the Aboriginals.