Endoscopy and computed tomography [CT] in lower respiratory tract scleroma

ABSTRACT

Out of fifty two patients with scleroma, twenty patients with laryngotracheal scleroma [38.5%] were examined by CT and endoscopy. Tracheal involvement was found in 65% [13/20] of cases, whereas bronchial affection was found in 15% [3/20] of cases with laryngeal scleroma and in 23.1% [3/31] of cases with tracheal scleroma. Two patients were presented with supraglottic scleroma. The first one showed supraglotric granulomata, and the second one showed bilateral lateral saccular cysts. Culture of the cyst contents showed klebsiella rhinoscleromatis. Endoscopy was very efficient in diagnosis, staging, and management of these patients. Although diagnosis could not be made on the basis of CT only, CT was useful in determining the extent of the disease as well as the response to therapy