title: [Endobronchial tuberculosis -- clinical and bronchoscopic features].
abstract: Endobronchial tuberculosis (ET) is a serious complication of pulmonary tuberculosis and is a major cause of morbidity. The aim of our retrospective study was to characterize the clinical, radiological, microbiological and bronchoscopic features of ET. Between January 1999 and June 2002 a total of 14 patients were diagnosed as having ET in our hospital. There were 8 (57%) men and 6 women with a median age of 39.6 +/- 18.1 years (range from 20 to 78 years). Cough was the most common complain and it was present in 71.4% of patients. Only 5 patients were sputum smear positive. Five patients (35.7%) had parenchymal infiltration and this was the most common roentgenographic appearance. Forms of ET were classified into subtypes: actively caseating (n=4), granular (n=3), tumorous (n=3), edematous-hyperemic (n=2) and ulcerative (n=2). The upper lobes were affected in 9 (64.3%) patients. Nine patients had involvement of the left bronchial tree, 3 of the right and in 2 there were bilateral lesions. The diagnosis could be established in 11 (78.6%) cases by bronchial biopsy. All patients had positive bronchial lavage cultures for acid-fast bacilli. Clinical manifestations and roentgenographic appearance of ET are not specific and so bronchoscopy is mandatory for the prompt diagnosis and follow-up of its evolution.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de S. João, Porto. gusmaria23@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sucena
authors.forename: Adelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Augusta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Venceslau
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hespanhol
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magalhães
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*