Fatal respiratory failure due to tuberculous intrathoracic lymphadenitis

Abstract

Tuberculous Iymphadenitis in adults affects intrathoracic lymph nodes in only 5- 7% of the cases and It usually does not produce Important systemic involvement. The case of a 21 year-old woman who died of respiratory insufficiency due to bronchial obstruction caused by large hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathies and bilateral massive pleural effusion is presented. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis was 85.3 new cases per 100.000 inhabitants in 1986, in Medellín, Colombia. Mortality can be calculated between 8-9% per year and, of them, only 2% die as a result of respiratory insufficiency. No previous report9 of fatal bronchial obstruction due to tuberculosis Iymphadenopathy were found in the literature. Poor socioeconomic conditions, narcotic drug consumption and the concurrent venereal diseases the presented contributed to the fulminant course observed in this patient. Attention Is called to this atypical as well as aggressive form of tuberculosis, specially when It occurs in patients that might be immunosuppressed.