ENDOBRONCHIAL TUBERCULOSIS: A CASE BASED APPROACH

Endobronchial tuberculosis is defined as tuberculous infection of the tracheobronchial tree. Although clinical features differ between various types and stages of endobronchial tuberculosis, common symptoms are cough, hemoptysis, sputum production, wheezing, chest pain, fever and dyspnea. Although endobronchial lesions usually result in sputum positivity for acid fast bacilli (AFB), a false negative sputum or absence of radiological lesions may result in delayed diagnosis. On the other hand, sputum positivity with presence of signs on chest radiology may lead to consideration of parenchymal TB as the primary diagnosis and the coexistence of endobronchial lesions may be missed until sequelae of the latter ensue. Bronchoscopy is essential for confirmation of endobronchial TB. This write up aims to summarize various clinico-radiological manifestations of endobronchial tuberculosis which were encountered in 45 years of clinical practice and will help respiratory clinicians in future for early and prompt diagnosis and management of the same.