Abstract: Objective To explore the clinical features of pulmonary tuberculosis cavities of initial treatment. Methods Fifty-four cases of pulmonary tuberculosis cavities were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the 54 patients , 49 cases with fever (90.7%), 50 cases with cough (92.6%), 32 cases with weakness and night sweat (59%) , 40 cases with blood count rising (74%), 17 cases (74.1%) were sputum smear positive. The X-ray film showed in 46 cases (85%) with thin-walled ,caseous cavity. Forty cases with lesions over 3 lung fields (74.1%) .At the end of 6 months, cavity curative effect rates were 77.8%(28/36) and 44.4%(8/18) in the patients with the course of diseases of 10～30 d and 30～60 d respectively. Conclusion Major cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis patients of initial treatment had typical clinical appearance. Single, thin-walled,caseous cavity and multiple lung fields involved were common in chest X-ray. Early treatment was of benefit to the closing of cavities.

Key words: Pulmonary tuberculosis, cavity