CT Findings of Endobronchial Tuberculosis (EBTB) in Adults: Comparison with Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy(FOB)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT findings of histologically confirmed endobrnchial tuberculosis(EBTB) and to access their diagnostic value by comparing with the bronchoscopic findings. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We evaluated retrospectively the CT findings of 25 patients(male female=5 20) with EBTB, and classified them into 3 types by their characteristic features, which are compared with the brochoscopic findings. The 3 types of CT features were as follows ; type 1 central mass-like lesion with coarse calcific spots associated with atelectasis, type 2 caseous pneumonia with air-bronchogram associated with atelecatasis, type 3 irregularly distorted and narrowed bronchovascular changes. RESULTS: Comparing the characteristic CT findings with the bronchoscopic findings, they were as follows ; type 1 showed completely occluded lumen by caseous or scar-like tissue with severely swollenmucosa, type 2 showed very thick tenacious mucous plug with anthracotic pigmentation of mucosa, type 3 showed chronic inflammatory change of mucosa with severely deviated or septated bronchial lumen by out-growing caseousgranulation tissue. A tracheal tuberculosis without parenchymal lesion was noted and the bronchoscopy showed caseous materials along the tracheal lumen to the carinal level. CONCLUSION: The characteristic CT findings ofthe bronchial wall and the changes of the adjacent tissues are related to the tracheobronchial tuberculous involvement. CT is useful for diagnosis of the endobronchial tuberculosis.