A Case of Bronchial Foreign Body Misdiagnosed as Bronchial Asthma

Address for correspondence : In Won Park, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Pildong Hospital, 82-1, Pildong-2Ga, Chung-gu, Seoul, Korea Phone : 082-02-2260-2295 E-mail : iwpark@cau.ac.kr Received : Jun. 15. 2004. Accepted : Aug. 15. 2004. In adults, aspiration of foreign bodies into tracheobronchus is sometimes presented atypically, mimicking chronic pulmonary diseases such as bronchial asthma, pneumonia, or empyema, especially without notice of aspiration or choking. In such cases, diagnosis and adequate treatments are often delayed. Suspicion of foreign body aspiration and computed tomography and bronchoscopic examination make correct diagnosis more early. We report a case of bronchial foreign body, which had been misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma with wheezing in the whole lung filed, and reversible airway obstruction in the spirometry. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2004; 57:484-488)