A tuberculosis-associated endobronchial polyp that was negative for acid-fast bacillus

Abstract

The author reports the case of a patient with a tuberculosis-associated endobronchial inflammatory polyp. Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) staining and culturing of sputum and bronchial washing fluid specimens were negative on three occasions. Biopsy results twice showed chronic inflammation. The patient was finally diagnosed with Mycobacterium tuberculosis based on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a biopsy tissue specimen, along with the finding of chronic granulomatous inflammation. The author herein reports a rare case of a tuberculosis-associated endobronchial inflammatory polyp that was AFB smear-and culture-negative and the patient’s clinical course after treatment.