Tuberculosis Discovered while Performing Thoracotomy for Suspected Lung Cancer

¹ Division of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, New York, New York

An analysis is presented of 17 patients in whom the diagnosis of tuberculosis was made at thoracotomy for suspected lung cancer. The maximum age incidence was between the fifth and eight decades, being more common in men. Tuberculin test was positive in all the patients. Roentgenograms of 14 of the 17 patients, most of whom were asymptomatic, revealed solitary pulmonary nodules. The radiologic features and conventional bronchoscopy were not helpful in distinguishing tuberculosis from carcinoma of the lung. Mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy, adhesions, caseous material and lesions between two to three centimeters in diameter were common operative findings. The posterior segment in upper lobe lesions and the posterior basal segment in lower lobe lesions were commonly involved. There was minimal postoperative morbidity, no mortality, and excellent long term follow-up without any complications.