Bronchoscopic Role in Early Detection of Endobronchial Tuberculosis in Suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of bronchoscopy in diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis in suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients whose sputum samples are negative for Ziehl Neelsen stain.

Bronchoscopy plays a major role in identification and diagnosis of EBTB. As a general principal, Bronchoscopy -associated with microbiological testing- must be performed on patients whose CT examination results indicate EBTB.

This study will try to focus on the importance of bronchoscopy in diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis among suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients who undergo fiberoptic bronchoscope after being sputum Ziehl Neelsen negative, scarce sputum and/or persistent consolidation on chest radiograph (CXR).