The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis has been reducing, but endobronchial tuberculosis continues to be a signigicant heath problem. We performed prospectively bronchoscopy in patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in order to evaluate the frequency of endobronchial tuberculosis and its related findings. Follow-up bronchoscopy was also performed after treatment to evaluate the incidence of endobronchial complications such as stenosis and remaining lesions.

From January, 1999 to December, 2003, bronchoscopy was performed on patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis.

458 patients were enrolled in this study, out of 699 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis from 1999 to 2003. 234(51%) had endobronchial tuberculosis. The frequency was 40.3% in males and 66.3% in females, The most common symptom was nonspecific cough and sputum, and the main radiologiy finding was patchy infiltration. The most common subtype of endobronchial tuberculosis was the edema-hyperemic form. The right lung was involved more frequently than the left, and the left upper lobe was the most commonly involved site. 58 patients underwent follow-up bronchoscopy and most of been cured without major sequels. However, 8 patients had a stenosis of trachea and main bronchus, and 6 patients had still had endobronchial lesions. Therefore the treatment was prolonged for 3 months.

Endobronchial tuberculosis of pulmonary tuberculosis has been remained of high incidence. bronchoscopic and follow-up bronchoscopy examination needs to evaluate the incidence of endobronchial tuberculosis and its related findings and major complication despite of treatment.