Airway stenosis after tracheo-bronchial tuberculosis

Tracheobronchial tuberculosis

Tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB) is reported in approximately 10% to 39% of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. It is defined as the tubercle infection of the trachea and or bronchi. Due to its non-specific presentation, insidious onset and normal chest radiography in about 10-20% of the patients, the diagnosis is delayed. Bronchoscopy is the most definite method of diagnosis which provides adequate specimens for microbiological and histopathological diagnosis. Tracheobronchial stenosis is one of the most common long term complications of TBTB resulting in significant morbidity. It is estimated that 90% of patients with TBTB have some degree of tracheal and or bronchial stenosis. In this review article, we will discuss the pathogenesis, symptoms, imaging, bronchoscopic findings, and treatment of TBTB and management of tracheobronchial stenosis.

Endobronchial tuberculosis: a case report and review of the literature

Endobronchial tuberculosis is a rare occurrence in the developed countries. The diagnosis is often delayed due to its nonspecific presentation and paucity of radiographic findings. The condition is often misdiagnosed as either bronchial asthma or lung cancer. The delay in the diagnosis often leads to airway stenosis and requires therapeutic bronchoscopy. Here we present 2 cases of endobronchial tuberculosis to illustrate our point.