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Case Reports
. 2017 Jul 31:2017:bcr2017220821.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220821.

Tuberculosis presenting as broncho-oesophageal fistula in a young healthy man

Ahmed Sayeed  1 , Eid Humaid Alqurashi  1 , Adnan B Alzanbagi  2 , Nabil Abdulwadod Badr Ghaleb  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Tuberculosis presenting as broncho-oesophageal fistula in a young healthy man

Ahmed Sayeed et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 21-year-old Saudi man presented with a history of dysphagia and choking. CT scan of the chest showed clear evidence of chronic recurrent aspiration pneumonia in the left lung. It also showed a fistula connecting the left main bronchus to the oesophagus. Endoscopy showed clear opening on the oesophageal side. Bronchoscopy also confirmed the presence of a broncho-oesophageal fistula on the left bronchial side with the presence of secretions on swallowing. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was done and sent for mycobacterial tuberculosis culture. The fistula was closed with clips under endoscopic guidance, which alleviated his symptoms of dysphagia and choking. The BAL culture grew mycobacterial tubercle bacilli. The patient showed marked improvement after starting antitubercular therapy and was discharged to be followed up in the clinic.

Keywords: Gi-stents; Tb and other respiratory infections; endoscopy; infection (gastroenterology).

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A, B) Multiple enlarged, matted subcarinal lymph nodes with central caseation and (C, D) broncho-oesophageal fistula communicating the oesophagus to the origin of the left main bronchus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Presence of frothy secretions (A), small opening in the left main bronchus (B), fistula on the oesophageal side (arrow in C) and clipped fistula (D).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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