A CLINICAL STUDY ON ETIOLOGY OF HEMOPTYSIS AND DIAGNOSTIC YIELD OF H.R.C.T THORAX AND FIBREOPTIC BRONCHOSCOPY IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH HEMOPTYSIS

Abstract

Objective:

About 20-30% of patients with hemoptysis may show normal or non-localising Chest x-ray. Whether the clinician should choose CT-scan of thorax or Fibre optic bronchoscopy (FOB) as the first diagnostic option in evaluating patients with hemoptysis and those who are with normal CXR is still debatable. In this study we have tried to explore the causes of hemoptysis and compare the diagnostic yield of F.O.B and HRCT (High resolution computed tomography) Thorax in evaluation of hemoptysis.

Methods:

It was a single institutional prospective study among patients presented with haemoptysis. After stabilization and control of haemoptysis all patients underwent for CT Thorax. In cases where the cause of haemoptysis could not be diagnosed by CT scan were decided for FOB.

Results:

Mean age of overall study population was 39.83±12.6 years. Male: Female ratio was 1.7:1. In this study etiology of hemoptysis were diagnosed by HRCT in 18(25%) cases and by FOB in 32(44.4%) cases. In 16 cases diagnosis was not possible by CT and FOB. Bronchiectasis was the most common (22.2%) pathology diagnosed followed by pulmonary tuberculosis (20.8%). Bronchogenic carcinoma constituted 12.5% cases,22.2% cases of haemoptysis were idiopathic.

Conclusion:

Both CT and FOB are playing definite role in diagnosing etiology of haemoptysis and they are  are complementary each other in diagnosis of haemoptysis.

 Keywords: Haemoptysis, HRCT Thorax, Fibreoptic Bronchoscopy