Endobronchial tuberculosis is a serious disease which is frequently complicated with
bronchial stenosis, and it may simulate a bronchial asthma or bronchogenic carcinoma.
We have analyzed the clinical characteristics of endobronchial tuberculosis in 166
patients, and we introduce new classification of endobronchial tuberculosis. Endobronchial
tuberculosis is classified into seven subtypes as stenotic type with fibrosis, stenotic type
without fibrosis, actively caseating type, tumorous type, ulcerative type, granular type
and nonspecific bronchitic type, according to the bronchoscopic findings. Actively
caseating type, stenotic type without fibrosis, nonspecific bronchitic type and stenotic
type with fibrosis are predominant in the order of frequency, but ulcerative type and
granular type are relatively rare. Stenotic type with or without fibrosis, actively
caseating type and tumorous type of endobronchial tuberculosis are closely related to
bronchial stenosis.
We believe that our new classification of endobronchial tuberculosis, which is based
on bronchoscopic features, is helpful to understand the pathogenesis of disease and to
make a therapeutic plan for preventing or minimizing bronchial stenosis.
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