[Standard radiological characteristics of thoracic sites of tuberculosis in patients with AIDS in a Tunisian population].

Aspects of tuberculosis on the standard chest X-ray in a population of 18 AIDS patients in Tunisia were examined. The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was confirmed in all cases with bacteriology tests. Diffuse lesions of the parenchyma predominated contrasting with the exceptional nature of cavernous formations. Localized infiltrations were infrequent and intrathoracic node enlagement was rare. Cases with no abnormal radiological signs were also seen in advanced HIV infection. Such atypical cases, in agreement with data in the literature, would be explained by immunoradiologic correlation. Thus it is necessary to search for the tuberculosis bacilli in all patients with HIV infection whatever the aspect on the standard chest X-ray.