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[Air trapping revealing endobronchial tuberculosis].
H Blachère1, M Montaudon, P Prisse
1Unité d'Imagerie Thoracique et Cardiovasculaire, Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, CHU Bordeaux, Pessac.
Journal De Radiologie
|August 1, 2000
Summary
Endobronchial tuberculosis in the main left bronchus can be suspected on CT scans, even with normal chest X-rays. Expiratory CT scans are valuable for detecting proximal airway stenosis caused by this condition.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is a form of tuberculosis affecting the airways.
- It often presents insidiously, sometimes with normal chest radiography, making diagnosis challenging.
Observation:
- A case of EBTB in the main left bronchus was suspected on computed tomography (CT) scan.
- Air trapping noted on high-resolution CT prompted focused examination of proximal airways.
Findings:
- Fiberoptic bronchoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis.
- The study highlights the utility of expiratory CT scans in identifying proximal stenosis of main bronchi.
Implications:
- Early suspicion of EBTB is crucial, even with unremarkable chest X-rays.
- Expiratory CT imaging is a valuable tool for diagnosing airway stenosis in cases of suspected endobronchial tuberculosis.