Endobronchial tuberculosis
Wishnitzer, R.; Eliraz, A.; Sternfeld, M.; Suher, A.; Knobler, H.
Harefuah 116(7): 356-358
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-7768 PMID: 2737560 Document Number: 342661
Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is not rare. It usually affects the upper lobe bronchi. Bronchoscopic examination may reveal white gelatinous material in the bronchial lumen, mucosal ulcerations, polypoid inflammation, scattered green-blue pigmented areas and narrowed bronchi with post-stenotic dilatation, some of which resemble colored dolomite caves. 2 women, aged 70 and 84, are presented, 1 of whom had been suffering for a year from persistent dry cough and the other from diffuse pneumonia resistant to several antibiotics. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy showed the characteristic picture of EBTB, later confirmed by positive cultures. Recognition of the clinical, radiological and bronchoscopic spectrum of EBTB makes it possible to start treatment before bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis from endoscopically recovered material.