[Differential-diagnostic value of detecting L-forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

A clinical and bacteriological study was made of 144 patients with new-onset pulmonary tuberculosis who had been treated within the first 3-4 weeks in the out- and in-patient settings for non-specific lung disease. Detailed studies found changed variants of the pathogen as L-forms in 28 (19.4%) patients, bacterial forms being undetectable. The paper shows how difficult to diagnose tuberculosis.