BACTERIOLOGLAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE TUBERCULOUS CAVITY

Chang, Pyoung Ha

doi:1964.0.17.63

Tuberc Respir Dis > Issue 17; 1964 > Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1964;17:63-66.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1964.17.1.63 Published online December 1, 1964.

BACTERIOLOGLAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE TUBERCULOUS CAVITY

Pyoung Ha Chang

Masan Railroad Hospital

Abstract

The tuberculous cavities in 126 resected specimens were first studied as to the presence and culturability of tubercle bacilli and a search was made 159 histological specimens of cavity walls, for the presence of bacilli, the results may be briefly summarized as follows: 1. In 114 specimens with tuberculous cavities, tubercle bacilli were found by smear in 82%, and on culture in 67% even in these cases with negative sputum prior to the resections bacilli were found 50% by smear and 16% by culture. 2. Tubercle bacilli were cultured in 75% of necrotic wall cavities and in 21% of the filled-in cavities these findings were not directly related to length of preoperative chemotherapy. 3. Of 33 filled-in cavities, tubercle bacilli, were found by smear in 43% and were not culturable. 4. Tubercle bacilli were positive in 65% of cavity walls examined and 86% of these showed the granulomatous type of cavity wall. 5. Positive findings were high in specimens taken from patients who had positive sputum on smear prior to the resections, and even in the cases with negative sputum both on smear and culture tubercle bacilli were found in the histological specimens of cavity wall in 9%.