50 endobronchial tuberculosis cases based on bronchoscopic diagnosis.

Endobronchial tuberculosis (ETB) is most often a complication of primary pulmonary tuberculosis in children, although it may also occur in adults. Bronchoscopically, mass lesion (polypoid and ulcerous granuloma), submucosal infiltration and fibrostenosis may usually be seen. 50 ETB cases were diagnosed by bronchial biopsy, bronchial fine needle aspiration and washing. Bronchoscopically, mass lesions were found in 31 cases (62%), 21 (42%) of which were ulcerous granulomas and 10 (20%) polypoid mass, while 11 (22%) cases were of submucosal infiltrative appearance, 16 (32%) fibrostenosis and 5 (10%) hyperaemia and oedema. The diagnosis could be made in 42 cases with bronchial biopsy, whereas only in 8 cases with bronchial fine needle aspiration. Statistically, therefore, the bronchial biopsy was found to be significantly more advantageous as compared to the other diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of ETB (p < 0.0001).