Endobronchial tuberculosis

Endobronchial tuberculosis is an infection along the bronchial walls +/- involvement of the lumen by tuberculosis. It may affect any part of the bronchial tree. It can occur with other forms of pulmonary tuberculosis and occurrence on its own is considered rare ¹.

Pathology

It may affect any layer of the tracheobronchial wall including the lamina muscularis and cartilage. Pathological changes include:

• mucosal and submucosal tuberculous infiltration
• ulcerations
• granuloma formation
• fibroplasias
• tracheobronchial stenosis

Radiographic features

CT chest

In additional to other classical features of tuberculosis, CT features include:

• acute setting
  • tracheobronchitis - proximal involvement
  • bronchiolitis - distal involvement
• chronic / prolonged setting
  • tracheal stenosis
  • bronchostenosis
  • bronchiectasis
  • broncholithiasis - broncholiths
  • secondary amyloidosis

Complications

Recognized complications include:

• tracheo-bronchial stenosis with lung collapse