Case records were reviewed of 201 patients that developed active tuberculosis (TB) complicating neoplastic disease at Memorial Hospital between 1950‐1971. TB occurred in 44 patients with lung cancer, 45 with head and neck cancers, 28 with breast cancer, 29 with lymphoproliferative disorders, 20 with gynecologic cancers, 7 with leukemia, 9 with, stomach cancer, and 19 with other neoplasms. Patients with lung cancer, reticulum cell sarcoma, lymphosarcoma, and Hodgkin's disease had a TB prevalence of 92, 78, 88, and 96 cases per 10,000 patients, respectively, with each neoplasm. Patients with head and neck, stomach cancer, and acute lymphatic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia had a prevalence of 51, 55, 37, and 28 per 10,000 patients at risk, respectively. The prevalence in breast cancer, colon, and genitourinary cancer was 5 to 20 per 10,000. TB generally occurred when the neoplasm first developed in patients with lung and head and neck cancers, and after antineoplastic therapy for advancing disease in lymphoproliferative disorders and breast cancer. TB occurring after antineoplastic therapy caused more severe TB infection with a high mortality rate. Patients treated with adrenocorticosteroids also had more severe tuberculous infection. TB caused masses and adenopathy plus fatal pneumonias and disseminated infection. Over‐all mortality due to TB was 17%, compared with 48% in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. Early diagnosis and treatment of TB is stressed.
