Tuberculosis in komyoen leprosarium

Abstract

Histopathological examination of tuberculosis was done on 107 autopsy cases in Komyoen Leprosarium from 1962 to 1970. Seventeen cases showed pulmonary tuberculosis, including healed and calcified lesions. The average age of these cases was 60.6. Active pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 10 cases; half of them formed tuberculous cavity. Only 2 cases showed remarkable extension of the disease to the other organs. This was quite different from the form of tuberculosis before 1950 which was predominantly accompanied with direct or miliary type extension. Gaseous pneumonia of 4 cases between 1967 and 1969 suggested possibility of reinfection on the aged. Active tuberculosis on the aged seemed to have a tendency to become caseous pneumonia. There was no correlation between the types of leprosy and tuberculosis. We deny any specific relation of tuberculosis to leprosy patients. © 1972, Japanese Society of National Medical Services. All rights reserved.