Airway stenosis after tracheo-bronchial tuberculosis.
Primary endobronchial localization of tuberculosis without change on chest X-ray is a rare clinical entity, and bronchoscopic examination is most appropriate to reveal such an occurrence. A 38-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman underwent fibre-optic bronchoscopy many months after the onset of cough with poor sputum and dyspnoea on exercise, chest X-ray being normal. In both cases, a widespread granulomatous involvement of the tracheo-bronchial tree was found and cultures of bronchial wash grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Patients recovered after 6 months of combined anti-tuberculous and steroid therapy; the granulomatous lesions disappeared but stenoses were found in the trachea and/or main bronchi. In one case, CO2 laser therapy was performed with no improvement.
Mariotta
S
S
Università La Sapienza, Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiovascolari e Respiratorie, Rome, Italy.
Guidi
L
L
Aquilini
M
M
Tonnarini
R
R
Bisetti
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis