[A suspected case of perforation of a lymph node into the bronchus during the treatment of adult hilar lymph node tuberculosis]

Abstract

A 27-year old patient was diagnosed as having post-primary hilar lymph node tuberculosis. First being admitted to the hospital with a high fever, a chest x-ray examination revealed a swelling of the left hilar lymph nodes and a sputum smear tested positive for acid-fast bacilli. Neither regular clinical examination or investigation had reported abnormality. The acid-fast bacilli was successfully treated through treatment using INH RFP SM. However, after two months, swelling was observed in the right para-tracheal lymph nodes, Further, a bronchoscopic examination revealed polyp-like tumors at the left upper and lower bifurcation. The swelling of the para-tracheal lymph nodes was considerably reduced and the tumors non-existent after five months. These lymph node reactions could have likely been a part of the so called early exacerbation. The polyp-like tumors were not found during the bronchoscopy performed during admission to the hospital. It is therefore suspected that the cause was perforation of the hilar lymph node into the bronchus.