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Tuberculosis |
Pathophysiology
These following images illustrate gross pathologic
findings with tuberculosis:
Note the subpleural granuloma at the right along with the
granuloma in the hilar lymph node, typical findings for the Ghon
complex of primary TB.
On closer inspection,caseous tan necrotic tissue is seen
to constitute the granulomas in this gross appearance of a
Ghon complex. Most patients with primary TB are asymptomatic,
and the granulomas resolve.
Extensive cavitation of multiple granulomas of lung are
typical for secondary TB from reactivation of primary infection
or reinfection as an adult. Such lesions have a prediliction
for appearance in the upper lobes of the lung.
The caseous necrosis is extensive, and cavitation is prominent.
Such patients can be highly contagious.
Another example of florid cavitation in secondary tuberculosis is shown here.
The small millet seed sized granulomas in this lung
are typical for miliary Tuberculosis.
Miliary tuberculosis, as seen here, typically occurs when resistance
to mycobacterial infection is poor.
