Classification of Endobronchial Tuberculosis by The Bronchoscopic Features

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 caseaing 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 stenoses. 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.