Pulmonary tuberculosis and coexisting carcinoma: a 10-year experience and review of the literature.

Of 7,986 patients admitted to Mount Wilson State Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases between 1960 and 1970, 72 were proven to have coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma. The patients usually were in the older age group, and usually smoked. There was a high predilection for the tumor to occur in the upper lobes. Active tuberculosis was present in 50 per cent of the patients and tumor and tuberculosis was present in the same area 80 per cent of the time. Cell diagnosis was possible in 60 per cent of the patients without thoracotomy. Diagnosis was usually made late in the course of the disease and therapeutic results were poor. Only 13 patients were operable and only four are presently alive. Earlier recognition is vital to adequate treatment. A plan for earlier recognition based on a high degree of suspicion is presented.