Open AccessEndobronchial tuberculosis polyps
Author(s) -
Yu Christiaan,
Foo Chuan Tai,
Aung Ar Kar,
Joosten Simon A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
respirology case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2051-3380
DOI - 10.1002/rcr2.595
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchoscopy , tuberculosis , histopathology , mediastinal lymphadenopathy , radiology , mycobacterium tuberculosis , biopsy , stain , bronchus , pathology , respiratory disease , lung , staining
Endobronchial tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon manifestation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We report a case of endobronchial TB polyps in a patient from India presenting with cough, loss of weight and night sweats. Computed tomography chest revealed enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, endobronchial invasion, and nodular infiltrates in the right lower lobe. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed two endobronchial polyps at the carina and left main bronchus which were biopsied. Histopathology showed non‐caseating granulomas. Both the biopsy and bronchial washings did not identify acid‐fast bacilli on Ziehl‐Neelsen stain and had negative TB complex DNA polymerase chain reaction. One month after bronchoscopy, M. tuberculosis was cultured from the bronchial washings. Following six months of TB treatment, there was full resolution of symptoms and significant radiological improvement. We highlight the diagnostic challenges in endobronchial TB which may impact on the timely institution of treatment.