Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases  2006;60(5):532-539

doi:10.4046/trd.2006.60.5.532

Clinical and Bronchoscopic Features in Endobronchial Tuberculosis.

Jin Young AN 1 ; Jang Eun LEE ; Hyung Wook PARK ; Jeong Hwa LEE ; Seung Ah YANG ; Sung Soo JUNG ; Ju Ock KIM ; Sun Young KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Endobronchial tuberculosis; Pulmonary tuberculosis

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis has been reducing, but endobronchial tuberculosis continues to be a signigicant heath problem. We performed prospectively bronchoscopy in patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in order to evaluate the frequency of endobronchial tuberculosis and its related findings. Follow-up bronchoscopy was also performed after treatment to evaluate the incidence of endobronchial complications such as stenosis and remaining lesions. METHODS: From January , 1999 to December, 2003, bronchoscopy was performed on patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. RESULTS: 458 patients were enrolled in this study, out of 699 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis from 1999 to 2003. 234(51%) had endobronchial tuberculosis. The frequency was 40.3% in males and 66.3% in females, The most common symptom was nonspecific cough and sputum, and the main radiologiy finding was patchy infiltration. The most common subtype of endobronchial tuberculosis was the edema-hyperemic form. The right lung was involved more frequently than the left, and the left upper lobe was the most commonly involved site. 58 patients underwent follow-up bronchoscopy and most of been cured without major sequels. However, 8 patients had a stenosis of trachea and main bronchus, and 6 patients had still had endobronchial lesions. Therefore the treatment was prolonged for 3 months. CONCLUSION: Endobronchial tuberculosis of pulmonary tuberculosis has been remained of high incidence. bronchoscopic and follow-up bronchoscopy examination needs to evaluate the incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis and its related findings and major complication despite of treatment.