[Evolution of tuberculosis and lung perfusion]

Ten patients with pulmonary tuberculosis of strikingly long duration despite intensive antituberculous therapy were examined by combined lung scintigraphy (133Xe in physiologic saline i.v. and 99mTc-MAA/microspheres). As a rule the scintigraphic perfusion defects far exceeded the lesions seen radiologically. These results appear to justify the presumption that the decrease - or even absence - of perfusion in the affected areas is responsible for protracted healing in these patients.