Application of bronchoscopic argon plasma coagulation in the treatment of tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis: Historical controlled trial

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bronchoscopic argon plasma coagulation for tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis.MethodsWe analyzed the records of 115 patients with tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis who did not show luminal narrowing of the bronchus at diagnosis. Of these 115 patients, 41 patients received bronchoscopic argon plasma coagulation plus routine antituberculosis chemotherapy (argon plasma coagulation group) and the other 74 patients received only routine antituberculosis chemotherapy (chemotherapy group). The treatment effects between these 2 groups were compared based on changes in lesions, rate of lesion disappearance, and complications associated with bronchoscopic argon plasma coagulation.ResultsThe complete removal rate was 100% in patients in argon plasma coagulation group. About 84.6% lesions disappeared completely in patients in the chemotherapy group. The rate of disappearance of lesions in the argon plasma coagulation group was faster than that of the chemotherapy group. There were no severe complications in the argon plasma coagulation group.ConclusionsBronchoscopic argon plasma coagulation can accelerate the healing of tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis and can help prevent progressive bronchial stenosis resulting from tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis, and it is a very safe method.