1/7. Suspected foreign body aspiration in a child with endobronchial tuberculosis.Endobronchial tuberculosis is a form of pulmonary tuberculosis, thought to result from rupture of an infected node through the bronchial wall or from lymphatic spread to the mucosal surface of the bronchial tree. With the presence of multidrug resistant isolates of TB, and its incidence in an increasing number of foreign-born persons immigrating to the US, otolaryngologists must be aware of its often subtle presentation. The following case is an unusual presentation of endobronchial tuberculosis initially diagnosed as an airway foreign body.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tree (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. The rapid diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis: a cost-effectiveness analysis.OBJECTIVE: The prompt diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a clinical challenge. It may be achieved by a number of tests which have varying accuracies, costs and degrees of invasiveness. The objective of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of clinical judgement (empirical), the Roche Cobas amplicor assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis (amplicor), acid-fast staining of bronchoalveolar lavage specimens (BAL), nucleic acid amplification tests of bronchoalveloar lavage specimens for M. tuberculosis (BAL NAA), computed tomography (CT) and amplicor assay followed by BAL. METHODOLOGY: The range of predictive values of the various strategies were derived from published data and a new study of 441 consecutive adult patients with suspected smear-negative PTB prospectively stratified into three pretest risk groups: low, intermediate and high. The cost-effectiveness was evaluated with a decision tree model (DATA software). RESULTS: The incidence of PTB was 5.7% (4% culture positive) for the whole group, 95% in the high-risk group, 0.9% in the low-risk group and 3.4% in the intermediate-risk group. The sensitivity of the empirical approach was 49% and of the amplicor assay was 44%. Patient outcomes were expressed as life expectancy for the base case of a 58-year-old man with a pretest probability of 5.7%. At this low pretest risk the differences in life expectancies between tests was < 0.1 years and the empirical approach incurred the lowest cost. Sensitivity analysis at increasing pretest risks showed better life expectancies (approximately 1 years) for CT scan and test combinations than empirical and amplicor for additional costs of US$243-US$309. bronchoalveolar lavage had the worst overall cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the pretest risk of active PTB was a key determinant of test utility; that the AMPLICOR assay was comparable to clinical judgement; that BAL was the least useful test; and that with increasing risks, CT scan and test combinations performed better. Further studies are needed to better define patients with intermediate risk for PTB and to directly compare the cost-effectiveness of more sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests such as the enhanced Gen Probe, CT scan and test combinations/sequences in these patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tree (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Therapeutic management of broncholithiasis.Broncholithiasis is characterized by calcified perihilar and mediastinal lymph nodes eroding into the tracheobronchial tree. We report herein 4 cases of symptomatic broncholithiasis managed by surgical resection in 2 cases and bronchoscopic removal in 2 cases. From our experience and from the literature review, bronchoscopic removal should be considered in cases of uncomplicated and loose broncholithiasis, whereas surgical management should be chosen first in complicated cases such as obstructive pneumonitis, bronchiectasis, massive hemoptysis, and bronchoesophageal fistulas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tree (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Diagnostic value of bronchoscopy, CT and transbronchial biopsies in diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis: case report and review of the literature.The authors present the case of a 48-year-old man with diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis. This rare lymphatic disorder is characterized by proliferation of anastomosing lymphatic vessels varying in size. Clinical presentation and imaging findings are highly suggestive. Bronchoscopic examination of this patient showed, for the first time to our knowledge, vesicles disseminated throughout the bronchial tree. Histopathological examinations are necessary to differentiate lymphangiomatosis from lymphangiectasis. The diagnosis can be made by transbronchial biopsy without performing open lung biopsy which was, until now, considered necessary for diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tree (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. Endobronchial tuberculosis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.Although many of the pulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are well known, endobronchial involvement has not been previously described. We report the clinical, roentgenographic, and bronchoscopic features of three patients with endobronchial tuberculosis and AIDS. All of the patients had nonspecific symptoms of fever and cough; however, none exhibited the classic findings of dyspnea, wheezing, or hemoptysis. Smears of sputum were nondiagnostic. The chest x-ray film revealed mediastinal adenopathy in two patients and a lower lobe consolidation in the third; all had small ipsilateral pleural effusions. Endobronchial lesions were white or pink exophytic masses obstructing the airways, mimicking bronchogenic carcinoma. Areas of "classic" primary tuberculosis were seen in two of the patients. Despite ongoing clinical and roentgenographic deterioration, all patients responded well to antituberculosis medications. Given the frequency of tuberculosis in patients with AIDS and aids-related complex, one should maintain a high index of suspicion for involvement of the tracheobronchial tree, so as to avoid a delay in diagnosis and resultant increased morbidity and mortality.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tree (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. Primary pulmonary tuberculosis in infancy: a resurgent disease in the urban united states.Primary pulmonary tuberculosis in infancy still exists in the urban united states, reflecting new immigrations from less developed areas. The clinical diagnosis may be difficult and routine chest radiographs may be confusing. We found magnification high KV filtered radiography to be very useful in delineating the primary complex and its effect on the tracheobronchial tree. Twelve infants and small children with primary pulmonary tuberculosis were seen in the years 1978-1984.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tree (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. Unusual manifestation of tuberculosis: TE fistula.Fistulas between the tracheobronchial tree and the esophagus (TE fistula) caused by tuberculosis are rare; usually they are associated with readily apparent pulmonary and/or mediastinal infection, and require surgical management. The patient we describe presented with a TE fistula as the only manifestation of active tuberculosis. This case represents the first report of successful nonsurgical treatment of tuberculous TE fistulas.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tree (Clic here for more details about this article) |