Pathology of Tuberculosis Treated with Streptomycin: A Review of 34 Cases

1)Chronic pulmonary tuberculosis during the period of maximum streptomycin effect is characterized by more rapid healing of tuberculous foci, lack of perifocal reaction about pulmonary foci, and absence of laryngeal and gastro-intestinal tuberculosis.2)With the onset of resistance, new foci developing in the lungs are similar to those in untreated cases, and intestinal and laryngeal tuberculosis again develop.3)The treatment of laryngeal and intestinal tuberculosis by streptomycin in cases after the bacilli from tuberculous cavities are resistant is of no value.4)In one case where tuberculous meningitis and chronic pulmonary disease coexisted, the organisms from the pulmonary lesions became resistant while those from the cerebro-spinal fluid remained sensitive.5)Tuberculous meningitis in cases treated for long periods is characterized by wide areas of caseation surrounded by broad zones of hyalinized connective tissue.6)Clinico-pathologic correlation of the effects of streptomycin therapy requires frequent sensitivity studies including postmortem material.