title: [Bronchopleurocutaneous Fistula: A Rare Complication of Pulmonary Tuberculosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple complications can occur in tuberculosis. Bronchopleurocutaneous fistula is a pathological communication between bronchus, pleural space and skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a 47 year-old male patient, schizophrenic, who presented with complaints of pleuritic chest pain, cough and weight loss. The patient was cachectic with purulent drainage from an orifice in the antero-lateral left chest wall. In this drainage acid-fast bacilli were identified and chest radiograph showed bilateral infiltrates. He was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department with the diagnosis of fistulized pulmonary tuberculosis, confirmed by visualization of acid-fast bacilli, positive polymerase chain reaction and cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the sputum. The patient was started on quadruple antituberculosis therapy and had a favorable outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bronchopleurocutaneous fistula is a rare complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. Despite pulmonary tuberculosis being a common condition in our country, the rarity of this complication prompted the authors to present it.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Medicina Interna. Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga. Aveiro. Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Sofia José
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Montez
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Infeciologia. Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga. Aveiro. Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Infeciologia. Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga. Aveiro. Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Infeciologia. Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga. Aveiro. Portugal.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Infeciologia. Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga. Aveiro. Portugal.
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016156:Respiratory Tract Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications*