Bronchial tuberculosis. Report of 4 cases

Four cases of bronchial tuberculosis are reported. The first case was revealed by signs of bronchitis; in the second patient M. tuberculosis was found at light microscopy but x-ray films of the chest were normal; the third patient presented with signs of bronchitis and upper lobe infiltration on fibrous sequelae; the fourth patient showed a pseudo-tumoral bronchial image. These cases and those of the literature show that clinical signs are usually those of bronchitis sometimes with the systemic symptoms of tuberculosis. Chest radiography may be normal or may display disorders of ventilation of lung opacities suggestive of recent tuberculosis. Endoscopy reveals granular inflammation with whitish secretion and progressive stenosis. Diagnosis rests on bacteriological and pathological examinations. Medical treatment does not differ from the standard one. Sequelae consisting of bronchial stenosis or bronchiestasis are extremely frequent. Bronchial tuberculosis is now seldom encountered and usually affects elderly women. However, it may now become more frequent due to the greater number of cases of tuberculosis with a slightly atypical course, as found in AIDS patients.