title: Endobronchial findings of fibrosing mediastinitis.
abstract: Fibrosing mediastinitis is underdiagnosed because of the nonspecific character of the presenting symptoms. The endobronchial findings obtained via flexible bronchoscopy are not defined in the literature. We describe 3 cases of fibrosing mediastinitis, most likely caused by histoplasmosis. All 3 patients presented with hemoptysis and were found to have tracheobronchial concentric narrowing, severe hyperemia, and mucosal edema. The hyperemic blood vessels were treated with neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and argon plasma coagulation. We believe that recognition of specific endobronchial findings aids in prompt diagnosis of fibrosing mediastinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Effrosyni D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Manali
authors.forename: Cynthia P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: Georgiann
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krizmanich
authors.forename: Atul C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome