[Characteristics of thanatogenesis and pathomorphology of tuberculosis in the Gomel region in relation to the Chernobyl AES accident].

On the basis of 750 autopsy records fatal outcomes were studied in Gomel and Gomel region for the period of 5 years after the Chernobyl accident and for the same period in Minsk and Minsk region. A stereomorphometric method was used for studying thymus morphostructure in 20 fatal cases of tuberculosis among the population of Gomel. Certain specific features of tuberculous thanatogenesis and pathomorphology have been revealed which were most pronounced on the monitored territories of the Gomel region and which manifested themselves in the more remote terms (4-5 years) after the Chernobyl accident. Mortality from fibrocavernous pulmonary tuberculosis with massive destructive components and copious bacilli excretion increased to 63.2% and that from disseminated forms of tuberculosis to 22.5%. In regions under the strict control the frequency of tuberculosis progress among the principal causes of death with the development of caseous pneumonia has grown to 55.5% as against 31.8% on the less contaminated territories (to 1 Ci/km2). The thymus underwent deep reorganization which was inadequate to the severity of the principal disease and age. The evidence of this was overstrain of adaptational-compensatory mechanisms of the immune system that finally led to the development of T-immunodeficiency in 55.3% of the patients.