Co-Incidence of Lung Cancer and Pulmonary Tuberculosis

The co-incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis tb and cancer was investigated retrospectively in patients, who were admitted to our hospital between the years 1990-95, and diagnosed as lung cancer. Fifteen of the 1012 patients with lung cancer had pulmonary tb also (1.48 %). Six of them had active and nine had inactive tb. Sputum smear for acid fast bacilli was positive in all of active cases. Nine cases were considered as inactive with clinical, radiographic and bacteriologic findings. The histologic type of lung cancer was non-small cell in all cases, The radiographic localizations of lesions were at the same site in 13 cases and at opposite site in two cases, Cavitation was present in five and mass lesion was present in 10 of cases. In conclusion; in old patients, diagnosed as lung tb, exhibiting atypical radiographic and clinical appearance, coincidence of malignancy must be suggested. And also, in patients with lung cancer, as an infective agent, worsening clinical situation, tb must be considered in differential diagnosis,