Endobronchial tuberculosis--a report of 5 cases

Endobronchial tuberculosis is not as well-known to internists as tuberculosis involving the lung parenchyma. Five cases with this condition are reported to illustrate the varied clinical manifestations. The presenting features of the 5 cases were lobar or lung collapse, unresolved pneumonia, dyspnoea and stridor. Bronchostenosis developed in 2 patients many years following chemotherapy, while stenosis of the trachea developed in one patient during chemotherapy. In another patient, the tuberculous granulation tissue simulated a lung cancer at bronchoscopy. Diagnosis can be difficult as endobronchial tuberculosis can occur in the absence of chest X-ray abnormality and sputum smear may also be negative for acid fast bacilli (AFB). Therefore, bronchoscopy should be done when the condition is suspected in a patient who has unexplained cough, wheezing, dyspnoea or haemoptysis. The modalities of treatment for fibrostenosis of a large airway include surgical resection followed by anastomosis, balloon dilatation, laser photoresection or a combination of both procedures.