Evaluation of patients applying to the chest diseases outpatient clinic due to back pain

Aims: Back pain is a complex symptom with diverse etiologies, including musculoskeletal, neurological, and visceral origins. Although commonly attributed to musculoskeletal causes, back pain may occasionally reflect serious underlying pulmonary pathology. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, demographic, and radiological characteristics of patients presenting with back pain to a chest diseases outpatient clinic, and to investigate the potential relationship between back pain and thoracic pathologies. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, the records of 493 patients presenting back pain to the chest diseases outpatient clinic between January 1.2020, and December 31.2024, were reviewed. Demographic data, clinical features, and thoracic computed tomography findings were collected and statistically analyzed. Results: Thoracic pathology was detected on CT in 8.5% of patients. Those with thoracic pathology were more likely to present with acute back pain (