Flexible Bronchoscopy for Diagnosis and Follow Up of Childhood Endobronchial Tuberculosis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In this study, our aim was to determine the clinical and bronchoscopic outcome of the endobronchial tuberculosis (ETB). METHODS: Patients with suspected tuberculosis (TB) or TB patients with an inadequate response to 8 weeks of antituberculosis treatment were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included to the study and 118 flexible bronchoscopies were performed. ETB was present in 33 (47%) patients. There was isolated compression in 14 cases, caseous lesions in 13, granuloma formation in 6, polypoid lesions in 2, adenopathy protrusion in 1, and mucosal erosion in 1 case. The mean duration of bronchoscopic resolution of endobronchial lesions was 5.50 +/- 2.74 months. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from gastric lavage in 10% and from bronchoalveolar lavage in 12.8% of 70 cases. When both of the procedures were performed concurrently, the isolation rate increased to 20%. Transient hypoxia resolving with nasal O2 was observed in 3 patients as a complication of bronchoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchoscopy offered a safe and rapid means of confirming the diagnosis of ETB.