Title: Histopathologic patterns of female genital tuberculosis with clinical correlation: A 10-
year (2013-2022) retrospective cross-sectional study
Version: 2 Date: 27 Mar 2024
Reviewer's report:
This is a very important study in female genital tuberculosis as this is a difficult condition
to diagnose. This study will add on the literature regarding clinical presentation of FGTB.
However, the presentation of results can be made more standard and clearer. Take care of
grammatical errors especially tense as well as spelling at places.
Abstract
No need to mention each and every number in results
The conclusion is too long for the abstract. Please only mention the facts derived from your
study rather than explaining theory.
Keywords: they should MeSH terms and should be written in alphabetical order.
Introduction
Line 32, please do not start the sentence with abbreviation.
Line 67 , the sentence “we will study…” should be written in past tense as the study is already
done.
Materials and Methods
Introduction to the study site and study duration should be mentioned
Operational definition: the definition of extragenital TB is not clear.
If clinical data were reviewed from medical chart, then other baseline characteristics like parity,
residence, occupation, other risk factors for TB would give more information if they could be
derived.
Results
The presentation of results is vague, please make it more concise
It would have been better if other demographic parameters, besides age, could have been studied.
The details of age is already described in text, putting it in table again makes it repetition.
I don’t think it is necessary to put both the numbers and percentages each time while presenting
the results.
We don’t need both table and figure to present the same data, can use either of them to avoid
repetition.
Table 8: There is no need to present percentages in different row. You can mention the
percentage alongside the number in parenthesis
Discussion:
There is no need to repeat each result in numbers and percentages while comparing with the
findings from other studies.
There are p values described in the discussion regarding association between granuloma stage
and AFB positivity. If any such associations were derived, you can present them in results or
can attach separately as supplementary file.
In strength of the study, its mentioned that the study has higher power, however, there is no
mention of sample size calculation and how the study was powered.
Conclusion
The conclusion is too long, make it more concise. Mention only the information that can be
concluded from your data and its analysis.
References:
Please follow the recommended referencing style and make sure the author’s name, title, journal
name, date are well written.
If there are more than six authors, you can write et al after the sixth author and no need to
mention all authors’ name.
Please correct reference 12, 13, 24 .
Tables and Figures
You can make tables more attractive, there is no need to make different columns for frequency
and percentage, you can put percentage in the parenthesis in same column
If you are using abbreviations in the table, please mention the full form of the abbreviations
below the table.
Figure 1: Please describe the findings shown by arrow. Is this picture taken from any other
source? If yes, there might be issue with the copyright.
Figure 5 & 6: Please describe the findings in figure. You can use various markings to show the
key findings like arrow or arrowhead.