Related Experiment Videos
Lymph node perforation into the airway in AIDS-associated tuberculosis
T Alamé1, P Dierckx, S Carlier
1Clinique de Pneumologie, Hôpital Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Bruxelles, Belique.
The European Respiratory Journal
|April 1, 1995
Summary
A perforated lymph node caused by tuberculosis was diagnosed in an HIV-positive woman using bronchoscopy. Early detection of endobronchial tuberculosis in AIDS patients is aided by evaluating enlarged lymph nodes impacting bronchi.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- A 27-year-old African woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented with pulmonary symptoms.
- Sputum smears revealed acid-fast bacilli (AFB), and chest roentgenogram indicated mediastinal and hilar adenopathy with a pulmonary infiltrate.
Observation:
- Fibreoptic bronchoscopy identified mucosal infiltration and perforation in the bronchus intermedius.
- Thick caseum was present, confirming a perforated lymph node.
Findings:
- The case highlights the diagnostic value of bronchoscopy in evaluating intrathoracic lymph node impact on bronchi.
- This led to the diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis.
Implications:
- Liberal use of bronchoscopy aids in earlier detection of endobronchial tuberculosis in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
- This approach is crucial for managing co-infections in immunocompromised individuals.