[Tuberculosis of the esophagus].

Tuberculosis of the esophagus is a rare disease, occurring in most cases secondary to tuberculous infection of other organs. There are neither characteristic symptoms or diagnostic signs, nor typical X-ray or laboratory findings. Histology, too, often fails to establish a reliable diagnosis, so that esophageal tuberculosis may be mistaken for esophageal carcinoma. Most cases can be successfully treated with antituberculous therapy, although patients with esophageal tuberculosis in the presence of AIDS do not respond as well to anti-tuberculous therapy.