• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.223-231
• /
• 1997

A total of 322 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis (8.1%) out of 3,982 subjects who had a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine of Hanyang University Hospital between the beginning of March 1982 and the end of April 1996 were included in this study. The peak incidence occurred in the second decade, and the male to female was 1 : 3.0. The barking cough with variable amounts of sputum was the most common chief complaint in 56.9% of the 313 patients. Other complaints included dyspnea, chest pain, fever, hemoptysis, and generalized weakness. Localized wheeze was heard over the chest in 16.9% of the 313 patients. Infiltration/consolidation was the most common roentgenographic finding of the chest in 64.2%. Bronchoscopically, hypertrophy with luminal narrowing was the most common findings in 32.3% of the 322 patients and left main bronchus was the most frequently involved in 24.0%. Using fiberoptic bronchoscopy allows not only substantial meaningful assessment of endobronchial tuberculosis but also makes a differential diagnosis of lung cancer in older patients. We need further evaluations of standard bronchoscopic classification of endobronchial tuberculosis, diagnostic accuracy of endobronchial tuberculosis by PCR, a large prospective study of effects of corticosteroids in endobronchial tuberculosis patients, and appropriate treatment of atelectasis by endobronchial tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.108-115
• /
• 1991

Endobronchial tuberculosis is a serious disease which is frequently complicated with bronchial stenosis, and it may simulate a bronchial asthma or bronchogenic carcinoma. We have analyzed the clinical characteristics of endobronchial tuberculosis in 166 patients, and we introduce new classification of endobronchial tuberculosis. Endobronchial tuberculosis is classified into seven subtypes as stenotic type with fibrosis, stenotic type without fibrosis, actively caseating type, tumorous type, ulcerative type, granular type and nonspecific bronchitic type, according to the bronchoscopic findings. Actively caseaing type, stenotic type without fibrosis, nonspecific bronchitic type and stenotic type with fibrosis are predominant in the order of frequency, but ulcerative type and granular type are relatively rare. Stenotic type with or without fibrosis, actively caseating type and tumorous type of endobronchial tuberculosis are closely related to bronchial stenoses. We believe that our new classification of endobronchial tuberculosis, which is based on bronchoscopic features, is helpful to understand the pathogenesis of disease and to make a therapeutic plan for preventing or minimizing bronchial stenosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.78 no.3
• /
• pp.286-288
• /
• 2015

Endobronchial tuberculosis is defined as a tuberculous infection of the tracheobronchial tree and has a prevalence of up to 50% in active pulmonary tuberculosis cases. The most common complication of endobronchial tuberculosis is bronchial stenosis; benign fistula formation by endobronchial tuberculosis is rare, especially inter-bronchial fistula formation. We reported a rare case of a 73-year-old woman with a fistula between the right upper bronchus and bronchus intermedius. A diagnosis of inter-bronchial fistula caused by endobronchial tuberculosis was based on the results of chest computed tomography scans, bronchoscopy, and microbiological and pathological tests. The patient was treated with anti-tuberculous medication, and her symptoms gradually improved.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.818-823
• /
• 1996

The tumorous type of endobronchial tuberculosis was reponed to be 5 to 10% in the bronchoscopic examination. It was protruding mass that tuberculosis mediastinal lymph nooe ruprured into the bronchial lumen. Generally histologic examination has been performed for purpose of differentiation, because the tuberculosis type of endobronchial tuberculosis simulate lung cancer in bronchoscopic finding. A case considering operation similar to bronchial adenoma in the bronchoscopic finding was confirmed to endobronchial tuberculosis by JX5itive AFB and disapperance of mass after antituberculosis medication. Case history was presented and reviewed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.204-208
• /
• 2005

Herein, we report a case of tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis with successful recovery of atelectasis without any significant bronchial stricture, after repeated expectorations of nodular tissues. A 24-year-old male patient was presented with persistent cough. The patient was diagnosed to be suffering from tuberculous lymphadenitis on right axillar and mediastinum of lung, and was subsequently treated with antituberculosis agents. After two months, clinical deteriorations and atelectasis were observed on right upper lobe of lung. Multiple endobronchial tumorous lesions, which obstructed the right main bronchus, were revealed on bronchoscopy, and based on the endobronchial biopsy findings we confirmed that the patient was suffering from endobronchial tuberculosis. We decided to administer antituberculosis agents without any additional procedure. After few weeks, the patient spontaneously expectorated nodular tissues with vigorous coughing. Later on, the symptoms and atelectasis disappeared and the patient was completely recovered. This case shows that in patients suffering from tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis, endobronchial mass can be expectorated spontaneously without sequelae of significant bronchial stenosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.347-356
• /
• 1991

Endobronchial tuberculosis is a serious disase because it frequently leaves airway obstruction as the complication, and the treatment of airway obstruction is generally troublesome. In the tumorous type of endobonchial tuberculosis, the bronchial patency is partially or completely compromised with lymph node contents when the necrotic focus of the lymph node ruptures into the bronchial lumen to form a bronchoglandular fistula. To investigate the transition of endobronchial lesion and to evaluate the therapeutic role of bronchoscopic electrocautery in the tumorous type of endobronchial tuberculosis, we performed electrocautery in addition to the combination chemotherapy with steroid and anti-tuberculous drugs in two cases which had airway obstruction proximal to lobar bronchus with the impairment of pulmonary function. We also treated another two cases only with chemotherapy and we have followed up four cases over a 36-month period. In cases that bronchoscopic electrocautery was done, the bronchial patency was completely restored and the impairment of pulmonary function disappeared just after cautery and these effects have remained for 12 months or more. But in cases of medical treatment only, bronchial stenosis was inevitable as the tumorous type of endobronchial tuberculosis changed to the stenotic type with fibrosis. It can be concluded that bronchoscopic electrocautery can nip the occurence of bronchial stenosis in the bud when it is applied in addition to combination chemotherapy with steroid and antituberculous drugs in the tumorous type of endobronchial tuberculosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.7
• /
• pp.714-717
• /
• 2003

Although the incidence of tuberculosis has been reduced recently because of the advance of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, improvements of public health, and early diagnosis, it is still high in developing countries. Intestinal tuberculosis can occur at any age, but young adults and female are more affected. Early diagnosis of childhood intestinal tuberculosis is difficult, largely because of vague symptoms and nonspecific signs. Recently, tuberculosis of the larynx combined with pulmonary tuberculosis has become quite a rare disease since anti-tuberculous chemotherapy and preventive activities are prevalent. Laryngeal tuberculosis, while relatively well recognized in the adult population, is a rare disease in chidren and adolescents. There are few reports of intestinal tuberculosis combined with endobronchial and laryngeal tuberculosis in children. We have experienced a case of intestinal tuberculosis which concurred with endobronchial and laryngeal tuberculosis in an 18-year-old girl who presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, a brassy cough, and anemia, which was diagnosed by a colonoscopy and bronchoscopy with biopsy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.495-504
• /
• 2004

Background : Bronchial anthracofibrosis is one of the main manifestations of lung disease that is related to woodsmoke inhalation, and it is frequently associated with various pulmonary diseases, such as tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of bronchial anthracofibrosis in patients with endobronchial tuberculosis. Methods : 63 patients, who were diagnosed with endobronchial tuberculosis using bronchoscopy, were included in this study. The patients consisted of 12 males and 51 females, having mean age of 59.5 years. The clinical features, radiologic and bronchoscopic findings between the patients with (37) and without (26) bronchial anthracofibrosis were analyzed retrospectively. Results : When the patients were older, bronchial anthracofibrosis was more frequent. The endobronchial tuberculosis, which was located at the right middle lobal bronchus, was more frequent in the patients with bronchial anthracofibrosis than in the patients without bronchial anthracofibrosis. In the morphologic types of endobronchial tuberculosis, patients with bronchial anthracofibrosis had more edematous-hyperemic and ulcerative types, while patients without bronchial anthracofibrosis had more active caseating. Conclusion : These findings suggest that the presence of bronchial anthracofibrosis can possibly influence the locations and morphologic types of endobronchial tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.5
• /
• pp.532-539
• /
• 2006

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.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.18-24
• /
• 2005

Background : Endobronchial tuberculosis often complicates bronchostenosis, which can cause dyspnea due to an airway obstruction, and can be misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma or lung cancer. This study investigated the possible correlation between the $interferon-{\gamma}$($IFN-{\gamma}$) and transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$($TGF-{\beta}$) levels in the serum and bronchial washing fluid and the treatment results in endobronchial tuberculosis patients. Methods : Sixteen patients, who were diagnosed as endobronchial tuberculosis using bronchoscopy, and 10 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. The $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels were measured in the serum and bronchial washing fluid of 16 endobronchial tuberculosis patients before and after treatment using the ELISA method. The endobronchial tuberculosis patients were divided into those who showed bronchial fibrostenosis after treatment and those who did not. Results : The $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels in the bronchial washing fluid in endobronchial tuberculosis patients were elevated comparing to the control (p<0.05). After treatment, 7 of the 16 endobronchial tuberculosis patients showed bronchial fibrostenosis and the other 9 cases healed without this sequela. In the patients with fibrostenosis after treatment, the initial serum $TGF-{\beta}$ level was lower than the patients without fibrostenosis after treatment (p<0.05). Moreover, the serum $TGF-{\beta}$ level after treatment further decreased comparing to the patients without fibrostenosis after treatment(p<0.05). Conclusion : Elevated $IFN-{\gamma}$ and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels in the bronchial washing fluid in endobronchial tuberculosis patients are believed to be related to the pathogenesis of endobronchial tuberculosis. The decreased initial serum $TGF-{\beta}$ level and the change in the serum $TGF-{\beta}$ level after treatment are believed to be involved in bronchial fibrostenosis during the course of the disease.