A case of rapidly expanding tuberculous lung cavity after bronchoscopy

Abstract

A non-smoking Asian woman with previously treated pulmonary tuberculosis presented with a recent onset unproductive cough and cavitating mass lesion on her chest X-ray which rapidly developed into a large tuberculous cavity after bronchoscopy. Acid-fast bacilli were isolated from the cavity and she responded very rapidly to standard anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. This unusual condition must be considered in patients who deteriorate after bronchoscopy.