[Esophageal tuberculosis]

Tuberculosis of the esophagus is a rare disease, occurring in most cases secondary to tuberculosis of other organs. A hyperplastic, a granular, and an ulcerous form can be discerned macroscopically. There are neither specific clinical symptoms and signs nor typical X-ray or laboratory findings; examination of bioptic specimens also does not allow establishing a diagnosis in many cases. A case report is given of a patient with ulcerous tuberculosis of the esophagus; the clinical course and diagnostic problems are described. Diagnosis was established in this case after a secondary abscess of soft tissue had appeared.