Scleroma of the lower respiratory tract: a bronchoscopic study

Twenty cases suffering from rhinoscleroma were studied. Bronchoscopy was performed for detection of secondary involvement of the subglottic region, trachea and bronchus. The study revealed that the larynx was involved in 40 per cent, the trachea in 20 per cent and the bronchus in 10 per cent of cases. The intranasal lesion, endotracheal and endobroncheal lesions all occur in the form of an atrophic stage, granulomatous (proliferative) stage and finally a fibrotic or scarring stage. The role of bronchoscopy in early diagnosis, initial symptomatic treatment and in follow-up is discussed in the light of the available literature.