[Cases of pulmonary tuberculosis found in the development of pneumothorax]

During the four-year period from 1987 to 1990, six cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, accompanied by the development of pneumothorax, were observed at our hospital. Distribution by sex was five males and one female. The mean age was 49.8 years-old. None of the patients suffered severe respiratory failure, and there were no deaths in this series. While many of the patients had bilateral exudative disease, five out of the six patients experienced pneumothorax on their right side. The realization of tuberculosis by both patients and doctor tended to be shorter than those cases without pneumothorax.