Abstract: Objective To study the clinic and X-ray characteristics of tuberculoma of pleura.Methods Analyzed retospectively 31 cases of pleura tuberculoma treated during 1970～1998.Results 1.61.3% of the patients had an explictly exudative pleural effusion history,after treatment effusion absorption and months or years later,a spherical shadow appeared. 2.77.4% chest X-ray had a pleural thichening,cacification and costophrenic angle change.3.45.2% misgnosed as lung cancer,mesothelioma and hamartoma.Conclusion Dignosis of pleural tuberculoma need an integrated history,tangential position X-ray film?CT and fuoroscopy of chest and sufficient antituberculous treatment may avoid operation.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pleural, Diagnosis, Treatment