[Differential diagnosis of infiltrative tuberculosis and pneumonia located in the the lower lobe].

Differential diagnosis was made in 2 groups of 85 patients with infiltrative tuberculosis and pneumonia. Clinical, laboratory and x-ray findings confirmed the value of standard examinations (anamnesis, complaints, physical and laboratory methods). Tuberculin diagnosis confirms the primary diagnosis only in case of hyperergic response to the Mantoux test with tuberculin PPD 2 TU. Tracheobronchoscopic detection of nonspecific endobronchitis is not a reliable enough diagnostic criterion to differentiate between tuberculosis and pneumonia. Roentgenologically, tuberculosis is characterized by more frequent polysegmentary lesions and involvement of the VI segment, pneumonia by involvement of the middle lobe, segments VIII and X.