[Routine biopsy of the liver during tuberculosis in the African adult. 129 cases at Dakar].

The routine use of needle biopsy of the liver in 129 African patients, aged over 15 years and suffering from various varieties of tuberculosis, gave the following results : specific lesions, above all during miliary tuberculosis, 25,6%, non-specific lesions alone, 37,2% ; normal parenchyma : 37,2%. These result were comparable with those obtained in Europe, in two similar studies, carried only by Coury and al. on pulmonary tuberculosis patients only, an by Morère et al. concerning all forms of tubercuosis. Steatosis without any alcoholic explanation, was observed in 24% of cases. Bacteriological research, even on a culture of liver tissue, was usually disapponting; only one positive result for 34 cultures. This possible spread of tuberculous infection at all stages of its course is still difficult to explain. It leads one to distinguish secondary liver infestations which suggest another localisation of the disease, from liver tuberculosis observed in clinically primary forms.