Effect of Direct Irradiation on the Course of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Using Cancerocidal Doses)

¹ Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary Diseases), Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
² Professor of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
³ Associate Professor of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
⁴ Assistant Professor of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

1. In this study, cases of inoperable lung cancer coexistent with pulmonary tuberculosis were irradiated with cancerocidal doses.

2. Seven patients in whom neoplasm developed in an area of tuberculosis were treated. The dose of irradiation at the central lung varied from 4000 r to 6800 r given in 37 to 104 days.

3. All patients received antituberculosis drugs.

4. The total period of observation after irradiation varied from seven weeks to thirty-two and one-half months.

5. In only one of the seven patients was there x-ray film evidence of change that could possibly be due to relapse of tuberculosis. In this patient (Case 7) the changes might be due to radiation necrosis (8800 r). This patient, moreover, had discontinued antituberculosis drug treatment after irradiation.

6. The experience in this small series of patients would indicate that irradiation of pulmonary neoplasms coexistent with pulmonary tuberculosis with cancerocidal doses can be accomplished without danger of deterioration of the tuberculosis if proper antituberculosis drug coverage is provided. In the presence of considerable drug resistance it would be desirable to add another antituberculosis drug to which the microorganism is sensitive to avoid any possible hazard of irradiation.