Serious sequelae of delayed diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis.

We report three cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in whom the diagnosis of the endobronchial component was missed initially. Despite proper chemotherapy, one patient had bronchostenosis leading to acute respiratory failure and death, the second developed collapse of the left lung, while failure of endotracheal intubation for general anaesthesia was the immediate problem faced by the third patient.