Tuberculosis affecting the oesophagus

Three Asian patients presenting with dysphagia were shown to have oesophageal involvement secondary to adjacent tuberculous mediastinal lymph nodes. The findings included fistula between the oesophagus and the tracheobronchial tree and extrinsic compression of the oesophagus. These cases reflect the increasing incidence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in adult tuberculosis, especially in our immigrant community.