Moderate hemoptysis of unknown etiology (original) (raw)
Related papers
Diagnosis and management of hemoptysis
REVIEW ABSTRACT Hemoptysis is the expectoration of blood that originates from the lower respiratory tract. It is usually a self-limiting event but in fewer than 5% of cases it may be massive, representing a life-threatening condition that warrants urgent investigations and treatment. This article aims to provide a comprehensive literature review on hemoptysis, analyzing its causes and pathophysiologic mechanisms, and providing details about anatomy and imaging of systemic bronchial and nonbronchial arteries responsible for hemoptysis. Strengths and limits of chest radiography, bronchoscopy, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), MDCT angiography and digital subtraction angiography to assess the cause and lead the treatment of hemoptysis were reported, with particular emphasis on MDCT angiography. Treatment options for recurrent or massive hemoptysis were summarized, highlighting the predominant role of bronchial artery embolization. Finally, a guide was proposed for managing massive and non-massive hemoptysis, according to the most recent medical literature.
Massive hemoptysis, the etiology is aorto-bronchial fistula
Tuberkuloz ve Toraks, 2012
A 41-year-old man presented with massive hemoptysis. On physical examination, auscultation of the lung reveals inspiratory crackles, predominantly located in the lower posterior lung zones and auscultation of the heart reveals 2/6 systolic souffle in all of the cardiac zones. During the observation in emergency room, the patient's hemoglobin values decreased from 15.5 mg/dL to 11.7 mg/dL. Because of this reason, erytrocyte suspension transfusion had been processed. Bilateral diffuse infiltration could be seen in postero-anterior chest X-ray. In the computed tomography (CT) of thorax, there was bilateral parenchymal ground glass opacities and consolidations ( ). During bronchoscopy, active bleeding from bilateral bronchial system was observed. Since intraalveolar hemorrhage was considered at the patient, etiology oriented examinations were evaluated. Patient was extubated after the hemopthysis had been controlled and then, he was transferred to the chest diseases clinique from the intensive care unit. Both in bronchoscopic samples and sputum samples of the patient, there was no acid resistant bacterium in direct microbiological examination and cultures for acid resistant bacterium were negative. In the evaluation of the patient in terms of vasculitic syndromes; anti-nuclear antibody, anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody and ENA panel were detected and they were all negative. In the medical consultation made with cardiothoracic surgery, there was no additional suggestion. In the control bronchoscopy for hemorrhage, only a former bleeding focal point on the left main bronchi has been observed. During bronchoscopy; bronchial lavage, bronchoalveolar lavage (from the right middle lobe bronchi) and transbronchial biopsy samples were obtained. However, those samples weren't useful for a specific diagnosis. Three months later, in the control CT of thorax of the case, ground glass Figure 1. A representative slice from second computed tomography scan (ground glass opacities).
A prospective evaluation of hemoptysis cases in a tertiary referral hospital
The Clinical Respiratory Journal, 2009
Background and Aims: Hemoptysis is symptomatic of a potentially serious and life-threatening thoracic disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative frequency of the different causes of hemoptysis, the change of the frequency of diseases, the value of the evaluation process and the outcome in a tertiary referral hospital. Methods: A prospective study was carried out on consecutive patients presented with hemoptysis. Results: A total of 178 patients (136 male, 42 female) were included to the study. Lung cancer (51), pulmonary embolism (23) and bronchiectasis (23) constituted most of the diagnosis. The most frequent cause of hemoptysis in males was by far lung carcinoma (50). Twelve cases of bronchiectasis and 11 cases of pulmonary embolism were observed in females. While lung cancer and pulmonary embolism were associated with mild to moderate amounts of bleeding (84% and 100%, respectively), patients with active tuberculosis and pulmonary vasculitis had severe to massive hemoptysis (50% and 44%, respectively). Transthoracic and other organ biopsies, spiral computed tomography (CT) angiography (X pres/GX model TSX-002a, Toshiba, Tochigi Ken, Japan) and aortography yielded high diagnostic results in our group (100%, 67%, 59% and 100%, respectively). The most frequent final diagnosis in patients with normal chest radiograph was pulmonary embolism (seven cases). Conclusions: Lung cancer, pulmonary embolism and bronchiectasis were the main causes of hemoptysis in this prospective cohort; however, this is the first report showing pulmonary embolism as a leading cause of hemoptysis. CT angiography with high-resolution CT should be the primary diagnostic modality if the initial investigation is inconclusive in hemoptysis cases.
Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia (English Edition), 2016
Background: Bronchial artery embolisation (BAE) becomes a mainstay in the treatment of hemoptysis. Objective: To characterise patients with hemoptysis undergoing bronchial artery angiography (BAA) for embolisation, evaluating outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with acute severe or chronic recurrent hemoptysis admitted to the Pulmonology department and submitted to BAA for purpose of embolisation. Results: A total of 88 patients were submitted to BAA, 47 (53.4%) were male, with a mean age of 61.4 ± 15.8 years. In 64 (72.7%) patients, hemoptysis presented as chronic recurrent episodes. Hemoptysis was considered severe in 40 (45.5%) patients. Bronchiectasis (other than cystic fibrosis) (n = 35; 38.0%) and tuberculosis sequelae (n = 31; 35.2) were the major aetiology for hemoptysis. The main angiographic abnormality was hypertrophy and tortuosity (n = 68; 77.3%). BAE was performed in 67 (76.1%) of the 88 patients submitted to BAA. Immediate success was achieved in 66 (98.5%) patients. Recurrence of hemoptysis occurred in 25 (37.3%) patients, and was related to presence of shunting (p = 0.049). The procedure-related complications were self-limited. Conclusion: Our results suggest that BAE is a safe and effective treatment for acute severe and chronic recurrent hemoptysis, supporting the current literature. Besides this, bleeding recurrence was relatively high, and correlated with presence of systemic pulmonary shunting.
Morphologic spectrum of undetermined causes of hemoptysis- a pathologistÂ’s role
Turkish Journal of Pathology, 2020
Objective: Hemoptysis is the expectoration of blood or blood-streaked sputum from the tracheobronchial tree. The etiology may derive from nonneoplastic conditions such as infections, chronic pulmonary diseases, and vasculitis or neoplastic causes. Sometimes a definitive cause for hemoptysis cannot be found after ample diagnostic workup. The role of biopsy in such cases is to help the clinician in arriving at the final diagnosis. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is the main histopathological finding in hemoptysis and it appears with diffuse chest infiltrates radiologically. Material and Method: A retrospective study of 2 years duration was conducted to identify the morphological spectrum of diseases presenting with hemoptysis. A total of 243 lung biopsies obtained by various methods were retrieved in this study period and 20 cases with hemoptysis of undetermined etiology were detected. Results: Based on imaging and histopathology findings, the etiological causes of hemoptysis were divided into hemoptysis with and without capillaritis or due to tumor/tumor-like lesions and due to miscellaneous conditions. The most common etiology was vasculitis followed by infections. Conclusion: Histopathology helps to detect the etiology, particularly in cases of hemoptysis due to non-immunologic causes. In immunologic cases, histopathological findings may support the diagnosis in correlation with the clinical/imaging features.
Clin Respir J, 2009
Background and Aims: Hemoptysis is symptomatic of a potentially serious and life-threatening thoracic disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative frequency of the different causes of hemoptysis, the change of the frequency of diseases, the value of the evaluation process and the outcome in a tertiary referral hospital. Methods: A prospective study was carried out on consecutive patients presented with hemoptysis. Results: A total of 178 patients (136 male, 42 female) were included to the study. Lung cancer (51), pulmonary embolism (23) and bronchiectasis (23) constituted most of the diagnosis. The most frequent cause of hemoptysis in males was by far lung carcinoma (50). Twelve cases of bronchiectasis and 11 cases of pulmonary embolism were observed in females. While lung cancer and pulmonary embolism were associated with mild to moderate amounts of bleeding (84% and 100%, respectively), patients with active tuberculosis and pulmonary vasculitis had severe to massive hemoptysis (50% and 44%, respectively). Transthoracic and other organ biopsies, spiral computed tomography (CT) angiography (X pres/GX model TSX-002a, Toshiba, Tochigi Ken, Japan) and aortography yielded high diagnostic results in our group (100%, 67%, 59% and 100%, respectively). The most frequent final diagnosis in patients with normal chest radiograph was pulmonary embolism (seven cases). Conclusions: Lung cancer, pulmonary embolism and bronchiectasis were the main causes of hemoptysis in this prospective cohort; however, this is the first report showing pulmonary embolism as a leading cause of hemoptysis. CT angiography with high-resolution CT should be the primary diagnostic modality if the initial investigation is inconclusive in hemoptysis cases.
Oman Medical Journal, 2015
assive hemoptysis is the most serious medical emergency and warrants swift and comprehensive evaluation of the lung parenchyma, airways, and thoracic vasculature. Anomalies of thoracic vasculature constitute an important and uncommon category as causes of hemoptysis. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is the optimal imaging modality for evaluating hemoptysis. In addition to showing the lung parenchyma and airways, it allows the evaluation of the integrity of pulmonary, bronchial, and non-bronchial systemic arteries within the chest. 1,2 Various congenital and acquired anomalies affect the pulmonary vasculature. Awareness of the radiologic manifestations of the disease entities and potential complications secondary to infection, vasculitis, or collateralization may aid early diagnosis. We report the cases of three patients who presented with hemoptysis. The right pulmonary artery was affected in all three, either due to a congenital or acquired cause, and led to systemic collateralization, which resulted in hemoptysis.
Indian Pediatrics, 2010
Context: Pulmonary hemorrhage and hemoptysis are uncommon in childhood, and the frequency with which they are encountered by the pediatrician depends largely on the special interests of the center to which the child is referred. Diagnosis and management of hemoptysis in this age group requires knowledge and skill in the causes and management of this infrequently occurring potentially life-threatening condition. Evidence acquisition: We reviewed the causes and treatment options for hemoptysis in the pediatric patient using Medline and Pubmed. Results: A focused physical examination can lead to the diagnosis of hemoptysis in most of the cases. In children, lower respiratory tract infection and foreign body aspiration are common causes. Chest radiographs often aid in diagnosis and assist in using two complementary diagnostic procedures, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and high-resolution computed tomography. The goals of management are threefold: bleeding cessation, aspiration prevention, and treatment of the underlying cause. Mild hemoptysis often is caused by an infection that can be managed on an outpatient basis with close monitoring. Massive hemoptysis may require additional therapeutic options such as therapeutic bronchoscopy, angiography with embolization, and surgical intervention such as resection or revascularization. Conclusions: Hemoptysis in the pediatric patient requires prompt and thorough evaluation and treatment. An efficient systematic evaluation is imperative in identifying the underlying etiology and aggressive management is important because of the potential severity of the problem. This clinical review highlights the various etiological factors, the diagnostic and treatment strategies of hemoptysis in children.
Management of life-threatening hemoptysis
Journal of Intensive Care, 2020
It is estimated that 5–14% of patients presenting with hemoptysis will have life-threatening hemoptysis, with a reported mortality rate between 9 and 38%. This manuscript provides a comprehensive literature review on life-threatening hemoptysis, including the etiology and mechanisms, initial stabilization, and management of patients. There is no consensus on the optimal diagnostic approach to life-threatening hemoptysis, so we present a practical approach to utilizing chest radiography, computed tomography, and bronchoscopy, alone or in combination, to localize the bleeding site depending on patient stability. The role of angiography and embolization as well as bronchoscopic and surgical techniques for the management of life-threatening hemoptysis is reviewed. Through case presentation and flow diagram, an overview is provided on how to systematically evaluate and treat the bronchial arteries, which are responsible for hemoptysis in 90% of cases. Treatment options for recurrent hemo...