Its name comes from a distinctive pattern seen on a chest radiograph of many tiny spots distributed throughout the lung fields with the appearance similar to millet seeds—thus the term "miliary" tuberculosis.

[3] Patients with miliary tuberculosis often experience non-specific signs, such as coughing and enlarged lymph nodes.

[6] Thirdly, chorodial tubercules, pale lesions on the optic nerve, typically indicate miliary tuberculosis in children.

[7] Chorodial tubercules may serve as important symptoms of miliary tuberculosis, since their presence can often confirm suspected diagnosis.

[9] The risk factors for contracting miliary tuberculosis are being in direct contact with a person who has it, living in unsanitary conditions, and poor nutrition.

[12][13] Once the bacteria reach the left side of the heart and enter the systemic circulation, they may multiply and infect extrapulmonary organs.

The infected sites become surrounded by macrophages, which form granuloma, giving the typical appearance of miliary tuberculosis.

A variety of neurological complications have been noted in miliary tuberculosis patients—tuberculous meningitis and cerebral tuberculomas being the most frequent.

Rarely lymphangitic spread of lung cancer could mimic miliary pattern of tuberculosis on regular chest X-ray.

[16] These false negatives may occur because of higher rates of tuberculin anergy compared to other forms of tuberculosis.