title: Measuring subepithelial thickness using endobronchial ultrasonography in a patient with asthma: a case report.
abstract: The chronic inflammation of bronchial asthma is characterized by swelling of the subepithelial mucosa. However, it is difficult to assess subepithelial edema clinically. We report the case of a patient with asthma whose subepithelial edema was evaluated by endobronchial ultrasonography. Receiving montelukast 10 mg/day for 2 weeks, a 42-year-old man with mild, persistent asthma had his symptoms controlled by beta2-inhalation alone. Pretreatment endobronchial ultrasonography revealed subepithelial thickening in the right main stem bronchus, with a low absorption area suggestive of edema. Two weeks of montelukast therapy diminished the amount of subepithelial edema. Endobronchial ultrasonography is a promising technique for determining subepithelial edema in the asthmatic airway.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-machi, Yonago-shi, Tottori-ken 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hitsuda
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001995:Bronchography; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019160:Endosonography; D004848:Epithelium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed