Endobronchial tuberculosis--is corticosteroid treatment useful? A report of 8 cases and review of the literature.

Eight patients with endobronchial tuberculosis diagnosed on bronchoscopy were treated with antituberculosis drugs and a course of prednisone. The progress of the endobronchial lesions was assessed on repeated examinations. The course of the disease was variable and the endobronchial narrowing improved in two patients only. Hypersensitivity reactions associated with initiation of antituberculosis treatment may constitute a special group where corticosteroid is indicated. In other situations, the usefulness of corticosteroid for treatment of endobronchial tuberculosis is not well documented.