Tuberc Respir Dis.  1970 Dec;17(4):11-16. 10.4046/trd.1970.17.4.11.

A Clinical Study on Organ Distribution of Tuberculosis

• KMID: 2529116
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1970.17.4.11

Abstract

The prevalence rate of active pulmonary tuberculosis among Korean population has been repeatedly reported and it was said to be 5. 1 % radiogically in 1965. But there has been no previous report on organ distribution of Tuberculosis and its epidemiological survey. For several years. we have paid much attention to this problem and made an overall review and analysis of clinical materials who visited St. Paul’s Hospital. We studied 4.212 patients with tuberculosis diagnosed out of 183.915 patients seen at St. Paul’s Hospital. Catholic Medical College, during the period of January. 1963 through August. 1968. 1) Incidence of tuberculosis among total patients was 2.3%. 2) Sex ratio showed slight precedence in male (59.5%) than in female (40.5%). 3) Pulmonary tuberculosis predominates all other forms with the incidence being 67.8% (male: 44. 1 % and female: 23.7%). While pulmonary tuberculosis combined with extrapulmonary focus was 5.7% and extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis was 26.5%. Sex ratio was around equal in these two types. 4) The peak incidence appeared from second to third decade (52. 1 %). 5) Of all pulmonary tuberculosis combined with extrapulmonary organs, lung and pleura was the most frequent with the incidence being 41.8% and followed by forms; lung and lymphnode 7. 6%. lung and peritoneum 7.6%. and miliary tuberculosis and meninges 5.5%. lung and bone or joints 5.2%. 6) Among extrapulmonary tuberculosis bone and joints were most frequently involved (23. 8%) and followed by lymphnode 22. 5% and plural 21. 3%. 7) Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common form of organ tuberculosis. Extrapulmonary involvement by hematogenous spread was relatively common, that is miliary tuberculosis 2. 26%, pleurisy 7.71%, meningitis 2.85%, and bone and joints tuberculosis 6.29%.