Endobronchial Tuberculosis Simulating Carcinoid Tumor.

Diagnosing endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) can be difficult due to the lack of specific signs and symptoms that differentiate it from other respiratory diseases, such as lung tumors. We hereby report a case of a very rare presentation of tuberculosis (TB) in a patient who presented with a dry cough and significant weight loss for 3 months. Chest X-ray and CT scan of the chest showed partial atelectasis and a segmental collapse of the right upper lobe and tumor-like arising from its bronchus along with a large right para-tracheal mediastinal lymphadenopathy, mimicking a metastatic (N2) disease. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy revealed a fleshy, highly vascularized mass occluding the right upper lobe bronchus, and thus the initial diagnosis of carcinoid tumor was made. Mediastinoscopy and biopsy of these mediastinal lymph nodes showed caseating chronic granulomatous inflammation consistent with TB, which changed the diagnosis to EBTB. The patient was treated with first-line anti-tuberculous drugs that led to a full resolution in terms of symptoms, radiological findings and complete disappearance of the endobronchial mass by bronchoscopy. To the best of authors' knowledge, there are no other similar cases in presentation and management in the literature.