Suspected foreign body aspiration in a child with endobronchial tuberculosis

Endobronchial tuberculosis is a form of pulmonary tuberculosis, thought to result from rupture of an infected node through the bronchial wall or from lymphatic spread to the mucosal surface of the bronchial tree. With the presence of multidrug resistant isolates of TB, and its incidence in an increasing number of foreign-born persons immigrating to the US, otolaryngologists must be aware of its often subtle presentation. The following case is an unusual presentation of endobronchial tuberculosis initially diagnosed as an airway foreign body.