Endobronchial tuberculosis simulating a tumor: an interesting case report

Endobronchial tuberculosis(EBTB)is a special form of TB which is associated with significant morbidity and potential mortality. EBTBis the infection of tracheobronchial tree, and continues to remain challenging for clinicians to diagnose. The incidence of EBTBhas been reported to be 5.8% to 30% in people with pulmonary TB. 60-year-old male, chronic smoker presented with complaints of dyspnea, cough with expectoration and sore throat for 2 weeks. General examination showed patient to have pallor and respiratory system examination showeddecreased breath sounds in left infraaxillary region and bilateral crepitations. Routine blood investigations done showed decreased hemoglobin levels, elevated total leukocyte count, ESR. Sputum AFB was negative. Mantoux-15mm induration. Chest X-ray showed homogenous opacities over the left lower zone and elevated right diaphragm. CT thorax done showed a subsegmental peripheral soft tissue density 4.3×2.2 cm in the inferior lingula segment. Bronchoscopy showed whitish plaques over the anterior tracheal wall near carina and over left main bronchus. Endobronchial tissue growth seen occluding the lingula bronchus. Biopsy was taken and histopathology showed a granulomatous lesion, BAL Gene Xpert was positive for MTB. Patient was started on 3 tablets ATT. Clinicians need to be vigilant in patients who are AFB smear negative, with symptoms; bronchoscopy should be considered in those selected cases.

Surgical Treatment of Bronchial Stricture due to Endobronchial Tuberculosis: Results in 36 Consecutive Cases / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Bronchial tuberculosis is a common complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. The present report is to investigate and analyze the indication and efficacy of surgical treatment of bronchial stricture due to severe endobronchial tuberculosis, when the drug and endoscopic treatment were no effect.@*METHODS@#Reviewed the clinical-pathological records documenting the surgical outcomes in 36 bronchial stricture due to severe endobronchial tuberculosis who underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy enrolled in our hospital between January 2000 and February 2016. Pneumonectomy in 8 cases, lobectomy in 23 cases, sleeve resection in 5 cases.@*RESULTS@#No intraoperative or early postoperative death occurred. Six patients developed complications. All 6 cases recovered well after treatment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Surgical treatment is still the recommended treatment modatity for bronchial stricture caused by endobronchial tuberculosis due to its good results. It should be performed in time when the drug and intraluninal treatment were no effect for avoiding of being progeressed.

Síndrome del lóbulo medio: reporte de un caso / Middle lobe syndrome: a case report

El síndrome de lóbulo medio es una entidad caracterizada por colapso recurrente y crónico del lóbulo medio del pulmón derecho, dentro de esta entidad se conocen dos formas obstructiva y no obstructiva con etiologías variadas incluyendo procesos infecciosos como la tuberculosis, cáncer y otros. La fibrobroncoscopia es la herramienta más útil para realizar el diagnóstico diferencial. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 26 años con síndrome de lóbulo medio por tuberculosis hematógena, miliar y neumónica con caverna con alta probabilidad de absceso. En relación a la etiología tuberculosa del síndrome de lóbulo medio, se han descrito casos ligados a tuberculosis endobronquial con y sin afectación parenquimatosa, esta entidad ha mostrado ser difícil de diagnosticar ya que la baciloscopia con frecuencia es negativa, requiriendo el empleo de TC de tórax, fibrobroncoscopia y sobre todo cultivo de lavado broncoalveolar y/o histopatología de muestras obtenidas.

Middle lobe syndrome is a condition characterized by recurrent and chronic collapse of the middle lobe of the right lung, within this entity obstructive and nonobstructive two forms with varied etiologies including infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, cancer and others are known. Bronchoscopy is the most useful for the differential diagnosis tool. We present the case of a patient of 26 years of middle lobe syndrome hematogenous miliary tuberculosis and pneumonic cavern with high probability of abscess is presented. Regarding the tuberculous etiology of middle lobe syndrome cases have been reported linked to endobronchial tuberculosis with and without parenchymal involvement, this entity has proven to be difficult to diagnose because the smear is often negative, requiring the use of chest CT, bronchoscopy and culture especially bronchoalveolar lavage and/or histopathology specimens obtained.

Diagnostic value of fiberobronchoscopy in endobronchial tuberculosis / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To assess the value of fiberobronchoscopy in the diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis. Methods A total of 67 children suspected of endobronchial tuberculosis in our ward from March 2010 to December 2012 had been tested by chest CT and ifberobronchoscopy, mycobacteria culture, liquid-based interlayer vessel technique and FQ-PCR from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and biopsy. Results 50 patients were clinically diagnosed as endobronchial tuberculosis. The positive rate of FQ-PCR (60%) and liquid-based interlayer vessel technique (42%) are higher than that of mycobacteria culture (20%), which showed no signiifcant difference with biopsy. The positive rate of the combined detection (FQ-PCR and liquid-based interlayer vessel technique) is significantly higher than that of mycobacteria culture and biopsy. Conclusions Fiberobronchoscopy is effective for the diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis.

Clinical analysis of 12 cases of childhood atypical endobronchial tuberculosis / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of atypical endobronchial tuberculosis(EBTB) in children and explore the value of bronchoscopy examination in diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Methods The records of 12 children diagnosed as atypical EBTB in Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from Jan.2008 to Dec.2011 were reviewed,and their medical history,clinical manifestation,imaging and laboratory findings were analyzed.They all had fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage.Four patients had bronchial lining pathologic biopsy.Bronchoscope findings of the 12 children were analyzed.Results The clinical manifestations of childhood atypical EBTB were various.The major were cough(11 cases,91.7％) and fever(7 cases,58.3％),other manifestations included wheeze (3 cases,25.0％),shortness of breath following exercise (2 cases,16.7％),and so on.Only 1 case had hemoptysis (8.3％).The major imaging findings were lymph node enlargement of hilar and(or) mediastinum (10 cases,83.3％).Five cases were with obstructive pulmonary emphysema and atelectasis (41.7％).It was more common than other type of pulmonary tuberculosis.It mainly expressed granulation tissue and neoplasm (7 cases,58.3％),caseoussubstance (4 cases,33.3％),extrinsic compression (4 cases,33.3％) and narrowed orifice of the lobe bronchus (2 cases,16.7％) under fiber bronchoscopy.The detection rate of mycobacterium tuberculosis was 50.0％ (6 cases) through bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.Four children were diagnosed by transbronchial biopsy and 2 children were diagnosed by gastrointestinal fluid smear after fiberoptic bronchoscopy.Conclusions The clinical manifestations of childhood atypical EBTB are various.Bronchoscopy examination,bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy play very important role in diagnosis and pathological classification of childhood atypical EBTB.

Relationship between bronchial anthracofibrosis and endobronchial tuberculosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Various pulmonary diseases may be associated with bronchial anthracofibrosis (BAF). Our aim was to identify a relationship between BAF and endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB). METHODS: In total, 156 patients, diagnosed with EBTB using bronchoscopy, between June 1999 and May 2008, were included. Clinical and bronchoscopic findings between patients with BAF (n = 72, BAF group) and without BAF (n = 84, non-BAF) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The crude odds ratio (OR) of BAF for EBTB was 8.88 (95% confidence interval, 6.37 to 12.37). On multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, history of biomass smoke exposure, and comorbidities, the most significant independent factor for EBTB was a history of biomass smoke exposure (adjusted OR, 17.471; adjusted p < 0.001). EBTB was more frequent in the right lung, particularly the right middle lobar bronchus, in the BAF group. Actively caseating, edematous-hyperemic, and ulcerative were the major types, with 77 (49%), 33 (21%), and 31 cases (20%), respectively. The BAF group had more ulcerative type, while the non-BAF group had more actively caseating type. The duration of EBTB treatment was similar between the groups. No significant difference was observed in the development of complications during treatment and posttreatment bronchostenosis between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that BAF may be a risk factor for EBTB and affect the location and morphological type at the time of EBTB development.

Clinical Course of Endobrochial Tuberculosis Diagnosed by Flexible Bronchoscopy in Children / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: The incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis in children is unknown, due to the inconsistent implementation of bronchoscopy in pediatric patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. In this study, our aim was to determine the incidence and clinical course of endobronchial tuberculosis in children. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients less than 18 years of age, who was diagnosed with endobronchial tuberculosis via fiberoptic bronchoscopy. RESULTS: Out of the 101 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 16 patients had endobronchial tuberculosis. The median age at diagnosis was 11.2 years (range, 5 months to 16.1 years). Tuberculin skin test was positive in 9 cases (56.2%), and 6 patients (37.5%) had a history of household contact with tuberculosis. Consolidation lesion was common in the simple chest radiographs of patients with endobronchial tuberculosis. According to the bronchoscopic finding, actively caseating type was most common (43.8%). Nine of the 16 patients of endobronchial tuberculosis progressed to bronchial obstruction and 4 patients underwent pneumonectomy or lobectomy. Fibrostenotic and tumorous type tend to progress to endobronchial obstruction compared with actively caseating type. CONCLUSION: The incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis in pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis was 15.8%. Early detection and effective treatment of endobronchial tuberculosis are important to decrease the secondary complication, such as bronchial obstruction.

Benign superior mediastinal syndrome due to intrathoracic tuberculosis in a child-association with endobronchial tuberculosis.

A 5-year-old boy presented with fever, cough, breathlessness and facial swelling. He was pale with distended veins over neck and chest, cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy and bilateral expiratory wheeze. Chest radiographs showed superior mediastinal widening. A computed tomography scan of the chest revealed mediastinal lymph nodes compressing superior vena cava and trachea. Bronchoscopy revealed nodular lesions in trachea and bronchi and compression of trachea. Broncho-alveolar lavage revealed acid fast bacilli. Diagnosis of superior mediastinal syndrome (SMS) secondary to tuberculosis was made and child was treated with antitubercular treatment along with oral prednisolone with good response.

Endobronchial Tuberculosis Presenting as Right Middle Lobe Syndrome:Clinical Characteristics and Bronchoscopic Findings in 22 Cases

PURPOSE: Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) presenting as right middle lobe syndrome (RMLS) is an uncommon clinical condition. We investigated the clinical characteristics in patients with EBTB presenting as RMLS. PATIENTS and METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 22 patients with EBTB presenting as RMLS who were diagnosed at our hospital from 2003 to 2006. RESULTS: Its occurrence was more common in females than males (F, 18; M, 4). The mean age was 70.3 +/- 8.5 years, and 17 patients were above the age of 65 years. Cough with sputum was the most common manifestation and 2 patients were asymptomatic. In bronchoscopic analysis, the most common finding was edematous-type EBTB, which was found in 15 patients, followed by actively caseating type in 6 and tumorous type in 1. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining for bronchial washing fluid was positive in only 5 patients: 1 with edematous type and 4 with actively caseating type. Bronchoscopic biopsy showed chronic granulomatous inflammation in 16 patients. Follow-up chest X-ray after treatment showed complete disappearance of the lesion in 2 patients, more than 50% improvement in 5, less than 50% improvement in 5, and no change of lesion in 4. CONCLUSION: Edematous-type EBTB was the most common type of EBTB presenting as RMLS, and it usually occurred in elderly patients. Culturing for mycobacterium and histologic examination by bronchoscopy are necessary for proper diagnosis in these patients.

Clinical Characteristics of Endobronchial Tuberculosis that Develops in Patients over 70 Years of Age / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The possibility of developing pulmonary tuberculosis usually increases with increasing age. Therefore, the incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis in older people may increase. We evaluated the clinical characteristics in patients with endobronchial tuberculosis above the age of 70 years. METHODS: We enrolled 74 patients (12 males and 62 females; mean age 64.6+/-16.2 years) that were diagnosed with endobronchial tuberculosis from March 2003 to July 2006 at Gyeongsang University Hospital. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics of endobronchial tuberculosis for patients 70 years or older (older group) and for patients below the age of 70 years (younger group). RESULTS: The number of patients in the older group was 41 (55%). Cough was the most common symptom in the two groups of patients and dyspnea on exertion was more common in the older group of patients than in the younger group of patients (31.7% vs. 12.1%). The actively caesating type of disease was more common in the younger group of patients than in the older group of patients (66.7% vs. 39%). The edematous type of disease was more common in the older group of patients than in the younger group of patients (53.7% vs. 27.2%) (p<0.05). Tracheal and main bronchial involvement of lesions were more common for the younger group of patients than for the older group of patients (30.3% vs. 9.7%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Endobronchial tuberculosis was commonly observed in patients older than 70 years and this group of patients had some clinical characteristics that were different from the younger group of patients.

Endobronchial Tuberculosis

Endobronchial tuberculosis is defined as a specific inflammation of the trachea or major bronchi caused by tubercle bacilli. Active disease can be diagnosed when certain endobronchial lesions-such as whitish gelatinous material, ulcer, tumor, stenosis, or inflammation-exist on bronchoscopy and tuberculosis is proven by bronchoscopic biopsy of these lesions. In pulmonary tuberculosis, resected lung specimens frequently show either ulceration or stenosis of the draining bronchioles or bronchi, and the same endobronchial processes may result in bronchiectasis due to destruction of the bronchial wall. These lesions are included in the disease entity of pulmonary tuberculosis rather than that of endobronchial tuberculosis because those endobronchial lesions distal to lobar bronchi do not have clinical significance. Fibrotic stenosis of bronchi may be inactive lesions resulting from prior endobronchial tuberculosis though sputum examination for acid-fast bacilli is positive, since the sequela of endobronchial tuberculosis and reactivated pulmonary tuberculosis can be present coincidentally. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain histologic proof of tuberculosis for a definite diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis. Endobronchial tuberculosis is a specific form or a significant complication of pulmonary tuberculosis, and it frequently causes matters of grave concern; (1) delay in diagnosis, (2) misdiagnosis as bronchial asthma, and (3) bronchial stenosis. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and multidrug-resistant strains of tubercle bacilli may be associated with a higher incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis. Therefore, endobronchial tuberculosis continues to be a health problem, though the incidence of tuberculosis affecting respiratory organs including the trachea and bronchi has been greatly reduced. Endobronchial tuberculosis should be borne in mind when patients are young female adults or adolescents who present with symptoms suggestive of asthma and/or with unusual roentgenographic patterns, or in patients with HIV infection.

A Case of Delayed Response of Tumorous type of Endobronchial Tuberculosis to Antituberculosis Treatment / 결핵및호흡기질환

Pulmonary tuberculomas show variable responses to treatment, with some even increasing in size after treatment. To date, however, no data have been reported on the response of tumorous type of endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB-T) to treatment observed both bronchoscopically and histologically. We report a case of bacteriologically- and biopsy-proven EBTB-T that showed delayed response to anti-tuberculosis treatment. Even after EBTB-T was treated with antituberculosis drugs for 15 months, the bronchoscopic findings and the histologic findings of chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis still remained. However, in fourteen months after the completion of treatment, the lesioneventually disappeared without further treatment.

Clinical and Bronchoscopic Features in Endobronchial Tuberculosis / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis has been reducing, but endobronchial tuberculosis continues to be a signigicant heath problem. We performed prospectively bronchoscopy in patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in order to evaluate the frequency of endobronchial tuberculosis and its related findings. Follow-up bronchoscopy was also performed after treatment to evaluate the incidence of endobronchial complications such as stenosis and remaining lesions. METHODS: From January , 1999 to December, 2003, bronchoscopy was performed on patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. RESULTS: 458 patients were enrolled in this study, out of 699 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis from 1999 to 2003. 234(51%) had endobronchial tuberculosis. The frequency was 40.3% in males and 66.3% in females, The most common symptom was nonspecific cough and sputum, and the main radiologiy finding was patchy infiltration. The most common subtype of endobronchial tuberculosis was the edema-hyperemic form. The right lung was involved more frequently than the left, and the left upper lobe was the most commonly involved site. 58 patients underwent follow-up bronchoscopy and most of been cured without major sequels. However, 8 patients had a stenosis of trachea and main bronchus, and 6 patients had still had endobronchial lesions. Therefore the treatment was prolonged for 3 months. CONCLUSION: Endobronchial tuberculosis of pulmonary tuberculosis has been remained of high incidence. bronchoscopic and follow-up bronchoscopy examination needs to evaluate the incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis and its related findings and major complication despite of treatment.

A Case of Endobronchial Tuberculosis with Repeated Expectoration of Nodular Tissues / 결핵및호흡기질환

Herein, we report a case of tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis with successful recovery of atelectasis without any significant bronchial stricture, after repeated expectorations of nodular tissues. A 24-year-old male patient was presented with persistent cough. The patient was diagnosed to be suffering from tuberculous lymphadenitis on right axillar and mediastinum of lung, and was subsequently treated with antituberculosis agents. After two months, clinical deteriorations and atelectasis were observed on right upper lobe of lung. Multiple endobronchial tumorous lesions, which obstructed the right main bronchus, were revealed on bronchoscopy, and based on the endobronchial biopsy findings we confirmed that the patient was suffering from endobronchial tuberculosis. We decided to administer antituberculosis agents without any additional procedure. After few weeks, the patient spontaneously expectorated nodular tissues with vigorous coughing. Later on, the symptoms and atelectasis disappeared and the patient was completely recovered. This case shows that in patients suffering from tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis, endobronchial mass can be expectorated spontaneously without sequelae of significant bronchial stenosis.

The Correlation between Bronchostenosis and Changes in the Levels of Interferon-gamma and Transforming Growth Factor-beta during the Treatment in patients with Endobronchial Tuberculosis / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial tuberculosis often complicates bronchostenosis, which can cause dyspnea due to an airway obstruction, and can be misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma or lung cancer. This study investigated the possible correlation between the interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) levels in the serum and bronchial washing fluid and the treatment results in endobronchial tuberculosis patients. METHODS: Sixteen patients, who were diagnosed as endobronchial tuberculosis using bronchoscopy, and 10 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. The IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels were measured in the serum and bronchial washing fluid of 16 endobronchial tuberculosis patients before and after treatment using the ELISA method. The endobronchial tuberculosis patients were divided into those who showed bronchial fibrostenosis after treatment and those who did not. RESULTS: The IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels in the bronchial washing fluid in endobronchial tuberculosis patients were elevated comparing to the control (p < 0.05). After treatment, 7 of the 16 endobronchial tuberculosis patients showed bronchial fibrostenosis and the other 9 cases healed without this sequela. In the patients with fibrostenosis after treatment, the initial serum TGF-beta level was lower than the patients without fibrostenosis after treatment (p < 0.05). Moreover, the serum TGF-beta level after treatment further decreased comparing to the patients without fibrostenosis after treatment(p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elevated IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels in the bronchial washing fluid in endobronchial tuberculosis patients are believed to be related to the pathogenesis of endobronchial tuberculosis. The decreased initial serum TGF-beta level and the change in the serum TGF-beta level after treatment are believed to be involved in bronchial fibrostenosis during the course of the disease.

The Clinical Significances of Bronchial Anthracofibrosis in the Patients with Endobronchial Tuberculosis / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Bronchial anthracofibrosis is one of the main manifestations of lung disease that is related to woodsmoke inhalation, and it is frequently associated with various pulmonary diseases, such as tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of bronchial anthracofibrosis in patients with endobronchial tuberculosis. METHODS: 63 patients, who were diagnosed with endobronchial tuberculosis using bronchoscopy, were included in this study. The patients consisted of 12 males and 51 females, having mean age of 59.5 years. The clinical features, radiologic and bronchoscopic findings between the patients with (37) and without (26) bronchial anthracofibrosis were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: When the patients were older, bronchial anthracofibrosis was more frequent. The endobronchial tuberculosis, which was located at the right middle lobal bronchus, was more frequent in the patients with bronchial anthracofibrosis than in the patients without bronchial anthracofibrosis. In the morphologic types of endobronchial tuberculosis, patients with bronchial anthracofibrosis had more edematous-hyperemic and ulcerative types, while patients without bronchial anthracofibrosis had more active caseating. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the presence of bronchial anthracofibrosis can possibly influence the locations and morphologic types of endobronchial tuberculosis.

A case of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to endobronchial tubercubsis / 대한내과학회지

Endobronchial tuberculosis is defined as a specific inflammation of the trachea or major bronchi caused by the tubercle bacillus. It is recognized as one of the most common and serious complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. A diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis is difficult due to the diversity of radiological patterns. But, it is still relatively common disease in korea. Endobronchial tuberculosis as a cause of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is quite rare. The mortality rate of ARDS is still high in korea. The detection and early elimination of the causes for ARDS at the initial stage can result in a more favorable prognosis. So, patients with ARDS, especially due to endobronchial tuberculosis or other form of tuberculosis, should be treated with antituberculous drugs as soon as possible. We experienced a young female with complaints of sudden onset dyspnea, mild fever. In this case the clinical features, laboratory data and radiologic findings allowed an initial presentation of ARDS. The ARDS was defined by the American-Europian Consensus Conference 19921-3). The cause of ARDS was revealed endobronchial tuberculosis. We started antituberculosis medication and steroid injection quickly, which resulted in good prognosis. We emphasize the prognosis depends mainly on the early recognition and treatment of endobronchial tuberculosis.

Clinical and bronchoscopic features of 280 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis (1990-2001) / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial tuberculosis is a serious complication of pulmonary tuberculosis and may result from rupture of an infected lymph node through the bronchial wall or from lymphatic spread to the mucosal surface of the bronchial tree. It is a major cause of morbidity, as it frequently heals with concentric scarring, resulting in bronchial stenosis, atelectasis, and secondary pneumonia. The clinical and bronchoscopic features of endobronchial tuberculosis in 280 patients were retrospectively investigated and compared to clinical and bronchoscopic features of 121 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis from 1982 to 1990. METHODS: A total of 280 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis out of 1,639 subjects, who had a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination at the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Hanyang University Hospital during the period between the beginning of January 1990 and the end of June 2001 were included in this study. The diagnostic criteria used for endobronchial tuberculosis included those patients with certain endobronchial lesions present on bronchoscpy, patients with tuberculosis proven by culture of sputum or bronchial brush and washing and patients with positive AFB or bronchoscopic biopsy specimens. Clinical information was retrospectively gathered from all available medical records. RESULTS: The peak incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis occurred in the third decades, with 2.3 times higher incidence noted in female than in male subjects. A barking cough (73.9%) with sputum (55.7%) was the most common chief complaint. The barking cough was not responsive to antitussive medication over a 3~4 week period but it did respond well to steroids in combination with antituberculosis combination therapy. Pulmonary function tests showed a normal pattern in 47.4% of patients, a restrictive pattern in 27.9% and an obstructive pattern in 16.2%. Parenchymal infiltration and/or consolidation was the most common roentgenographic finding of the chest (61.7%). Caseating necrosis was the most common bronchoscopic finding (31.4%). By bronchoscopic examination, the right upper bronchi and left upper bronchi were the most frequently involved in 42.2%. The positive rate of AFB smear and culture from bronchoscopic washing and/or brushing samples 46.4% and 30.5%, respectively. The positive rate of tuberculosis PCR was 51.3%(40/78). CONCLUSION: The incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis did not decrease compared to the clinical features of 1982~1990. Thus, young female patients presenting with a barking cough not responsive to antitussives over a 3~4 week period, endobronchial tuberculosis should be considered as an etiology.

A Case of Intestinal Tuberculosis Concurring with Endobronchial and Laryngeal Tuberculosis

Although the incidence of tuberculosis has been reduced recently because of the advance of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, improvements of public health, and early diagnosis, it is still high in developing countries. Intestinal tuberculosis can occur at any age, but young adults and female are more affected. Early diagnosis of childhood intestinal tuberculosis is difficult, largely because of vague symptoms and nonspecific signs. Recently, tuberculosis of the larynx combined with pulmonary tuberculosis has become quite a rare disease since anti-tuberculous chemotherapy and preventive activities are prevalent. Laryngeal tuberculosis, while relatively well recognized in the adult population, is a rare disease in chidren and adolescents. There are few reports of intestinal tuberculosis combined with endobronchial and laryngeal tuberculosis in children. We have experienced a case of intestinal tuberculosis which concurred with endobronchial and laryngeal tuberculosis in an 18-year-old girl who presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, a brassy cough, and anemia, which was diagnosed by a colonoscopy and bronchoscopy with biopsy.

Tuberculose endobrônquica / Endobronchial tuberculosis

Apresentamos um caso de tuberculose endobrônquica em uma mulher com 49 anos de idade. Em virtude da alta incidência de tuberculose infecção/doença em nosso meio e das sequelas que pode causar, os autores enfatizam a importância do exame andoscópico do aparelho respiratório no diagnóstico, tratamento e seguimento das lesões endobrônquicas.

A case of endobronchial tuberculosis is presented in a 49-year-old women patient. Considering the high tuberculosis infection/disease prevalence in our environment and the potential sequelae of this kind of tuberculosis, the authors emphasize the importance of the respiratory endoscopic examination for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of endobronchial lesions.