[Retrospective analysis of 27 cases of disseminated tuberculosis].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis.


METHODS
Twenty-seven cases of hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis diagnosed by autopsy from 1961 to 2000 were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
Among these patients the disease was acute in 22 cases (including 3 non-reactive) and chronic in 5. Twenty cases (74%) were misdiagnosed before death, most of which were due to concomitant with or misdiagnosed as connective tissue disease, hematological disease or tumor. 63% of the cases had long-term use of corticosteroids or repeated chemotherapy. Most cases showed atypical clinical manifestations and chest X-ray lesions. The positive rate of tuberculin skin test and sputum for smear were low. Autopsy showed that all cases had active lung tuberculosis and the major extra-pulmonary organs involved were liver, spleen and lymph nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Unaware of the risk for tuberculosis among immune compromised patients was the main reason for misdiagnosis and corticosteroid abuse was common. Physician should be alert to the occurrence of hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis, especially in immune compromised patients with long-term fever and systemic injury. Direct smear and cultural examination as well as newer diagnostic approaches with sputum and tissue may be useful for a rapid and correct diagnosis.
Department of Respiratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Xiao-tong
XT
Zhang
Long-yun
LY
Li
Li
L
Zhang
Yuan-jue
YJ
Zhu
Quan-cai
QC
Cui
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy