The Study of <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </italic> in Iranian Patients With Lung Cancer

Abstract

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis has the ability to invade type II alveolar epithelial cells. As a result, the associations between invasion of alveolar epithelial cells and pathogenesis of lung infection seem strong. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the presence of M. tuberculosis in patients with lung cancer. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on samples collected from 380 patients with lung cancer who referred to two state-run hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. Microscopic and cultural methods were utilized to assess the presence of M. tuberculosis in the patients` specimens. Results: The subjects included 252 (66.3%) males and 128 (33.7%) females. Based on cultural and microscopic methods, M. tuberculosis infection was observed in twenty six (6.8%) of cases. Conclusions: Results of the current study showed the high prevalence of M. tuberculosis among the patients with lung cancer; therefore, it seems that continuous surveillance is essential to monitor the M. tuberculosis in the patients with lung cancer.