[Pathogenesis of miliary tuberculosis in the aged].

Pathological analysis was made on 28 cases in relation to aging process and to onset of miliary tuberculosis. They were classified into the following 4 groups. (1) Early dissemination (2) Dissemination from secondary complex lesion (3) Recurrence and dissemination from stable tuberculous lymph node lesions (4) Late dissemination. The majority of the cases (57.1%) was of late dissemination irrespective of the age of patient. In 16 cases over 60 years of age, two cases which appeared on the immunological memory defect, were thought to develop from so-called secondary complex lesion. Nearly one third (5) of cases over 60 years of age developed miliary tuberculosis from the relapsed lymph node tuberculosis in association with primary complex. These forms were seldom reported in the past and were thought to refer to the immunological defect in aging process. The findings will be published in detail elsewhere.