Recent Experience in the Treatment of Silicotuberculosis

1. During the past five years, 88 patients with silicotuberculosis were admitted to Rocky Knoll Sanatorium. Most of them were in the older age group and were foreign born.

2. Diagnosis of active tuberculosis in most of this group was difficult to establish because of perplexity in evaluating symptoms, atypical x-ray shadows of silicotuberculosis, and frequent inability to culture tubercle bacilli from excretions until excavation had occurred.

3. Poor response to chemotherapy and frequency of relapse was noted.

4. The following criteria are given to guide the physician in initiating chemotherapy in silicotuberculosis:

a. Positive tuberculin test. b. X-ray evidence suggestive of silicotuberculosis. c. Progression of conglomerate densities in series of films. d. Other evidence of activity: hemoptysis, fever, elevated sedimentation rate.