Open AccessMultinodule abnormalities of the tracheobronchus: bronchoscopy findings and clinical diagnosis
Author(s) -
An Jian,
Yang HuaPing,
Hu ChengPing,
Cao LiMing,
Zhou YaFang,
Xiao QiMing,
Pan PinHua,
Luo BaiLing,
Meng Jie,
Zheng ZhiYuan,
Su XiaoLi,
Li YuanYuan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/crj.12356
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchoscopy , sarcoidosis , granuloma , nodule (geology) , radiology , pathological , biopsy , tuberculosis , pulmonologists , pathology , paleontology , intensive care medicine , biology
Background and Aims Bronchoscopy is an important method for diagnosing respiratory disease. Multiple tracheobronchial nodules are rarely reported and their causes remain unclear. Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of multiple nodule tracheobronchial abnormalities found under bronchoscopy caused by different diseases. Methods Eighty‐seven patients with multiple tracheobronchial nodules were enrolled in this study. The characteristics of the multinodule lesions and the patient were diagnosed based on the pathology findings in our hospital. Chest computed tomography images were retrospectively reviewed by pulmonologists and radiologist. Results In 55 patients with definite pathological diagnosis, 16 (29%) patients were diagnosed as tuberculosis (TB) granuloma; 23 (41.8%) cases were diagnosed as malignant disease; 12 (21.8%) cases were diagnosed as tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica; 2 (3.6%) cases were diagnosed as sarcoidosis; and one case (1.8%) was diagnosed as lymphoma and one case (1.8%) as fungal infection. There were 32 cases of chronic inflammation. There was no relationship between nodule distribution and the pathological diagnosis. Malignant nodules usually smaller with a pale outlook, while nodules with larger size and smooth and intact mucosa usually turn out to be granuloma of unknown reason. Conclusion The major causes of mutinodule lesions observed using bronchoscopy are tumor and TB. The presence of multiple endotracheobronchial nodules suggest that pulmonary lesion is present, and biopsy should be performed. Malignant nodules can be diagnosed by appearance and biopsy. Pathology results of TB, sarcoidosis and fungal infection can turn out to be granuloma of unknown reason. Further diagnosis needs other clinical materials.