Pulmonary tuberculosis in Gurkhas in Hong Kong in the period 1984-1987 and the role played by routine radiology in case detection.

A retrospective study of all cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in Gurkha soldiers and their dependants in Hong Kong in the years 1984-1987 inclusive was performed. In addition all chest X-rays requested for routine purposes and taken at the British Military Hospital, Hong Kong during 1986 were analysed. These studies showed that the current regulations requiring an annual chest X-ray for all Gurkha soldiers and their dependants were neither cost effective nor productive in screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis.