Diagnostic features and therapeutic outcome of erosive and ulcerous endobronchial tuberculosis

• Published in: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease Vol. 2; no. 7; pp. 558 - 562
• Main Authors: Rikimaru, Kinosita, Yano, Ichiki, Watanabe, Shiraisi, Huruno, Ookubo, Oizumi, Kotaro, Kondo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris, France IUATLD 01.07.1998; Union internationale contre la tuberculose et les maladies respiratoires
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aerosolized Therapy; Aged; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchial Diseases - diagnosis; Bronchial Diseases - drug therapy; Bronchial Diseases - physiopathology; Corticosteroids; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endobronchial Tuberculosis; Female; Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Streptomycin; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - drug therapy; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - physiopathology; Ulcer; Bronchoscopy; Human; Prognosis; Respiratory disease; Bronchus; Mycobacterial infection; Infection; Symptomatology; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Tuberculosis; Bacteriosis; Aerosols; Bronchus disease; Diagnosis; Lesion; Ulceration
• ISSN: 1027-3719; 1815-7920

Setting and Objective: Erosive and ulcerous endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is distinct from pulmonary tuberculosis in some aspects. We evaluated the clinical features of 56 patients (26 males and 30 females) with EBTB to characterize the clinical features of the disease.RESULTS: The chief complaint in 70% of patients was intractable cough, particularly in those with tracheal tuberculosis. The predominant radiological features were patchy bi-apical infiltrates of variable intensity without cavitation; for six patients, however, plain radiographs revealed no abnormalities. The ulcerous lesions could be classified into three stages: active, healing and scarring. Furthermore, we divided scarring stage into two subtypes, polypoid and non-polypoid. Most of the patients were treated with isoniazid, rifampin, and streptomycin (SM) or ethambutol. Approximately one-third of the patients, not randomly selected, were treated with aerosolized SM and corticosteroids in addition to conventional oral therapy.Conclusion: EBTB involves typical clinical and radiographic features. In this uncontrolled series, it was our impression that the period of time to healing of ulcerous lesions seemed to be shorter in those treated with aerosol therapy including streptomycin and corticosteroids.