Endobronchial Tuberculosis: An Overview

Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is a special type of pulmonary tuberculosis and its incidence has increased in recent years. The EBTB often injures the tracheobronchial wall and leads to tracheobronchial stenosis resulting in intractable tuberculosis and make patients become chronic infection sources of tuberculosis, or may even cause pulmonary complications and resulting in death. The etiological confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is most substantial for diagnosis. However, because the positive rate of acidfast bacillus staining for sputum smears is low and the clinical and radiological findings are usually non-distinctive, the diagnosis of EBTB is often mistaken and delayed. For early diagnosis, a high index of suspicion is required and the bronchoscopy should be performed as soon as possible in suspected patients. The eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the prevention of tracheobronchial stenosis are two most substantial treatment goals. For this, the diagnosis must be established early and aggressive treatments must be performed before the disease progresses too far.