[Esophageal tuberculosis]

Abstract

Primary esophageal tuberculosis is virtually non-existent and there are few cases described of secondary esophageal tuberculosis. Esophageal tuberculosis should be suspected in patients with dysphagia, positive test results for tuberculin, active pulmonary disease or mediastinal adenopathies. Endoscopic or x-ray images could be indistinguishable from esophageal carcinomas, hence a diagnosis can prevent wrong treatments. Confirming the diagnosis requires isolation of tuberculosis bacillus. Treatment for a patient with esophageal tuberculosis is standard therapy. Key words: Tuberculosis, esophagus.