general tuberculosis

general tuberculosis

A nonspecific term for:
(1) Miliary tuberculosis; 
(2) Disseminated tuberculosis.

The distinction between these two overlapping terms has been erased, as they are generally regarded as synonyms. There may be some utility in retaining both: miliary tuberculosis would be defined as the hematogenous spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with granuloma formation at the "metastatic" site (indicating a relatively intact immune system), whereas disseminated tuberculosis would be defined as hematogenous spread of mycobacterium tuberculosis without granuloma formation (indicating complete anergy).

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.