title: [Identification and bronchoscopic management of broncholithiasis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the diagnostic experience for broncholithiasis, and to evaluate the value of flexible bronchoscopic management for the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data, radiological features, bronchoscopy findings, the effect and complications of bronchoscopic management in 31 patients with broncholithiasis admitted to changhai hospital of second military medical university and zhejiang Taizhou Hospital between 2000 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 19 men and 12 women, the mean age was 58.6 +/- 12.6. There were 26 cases missed diagnosis, and 19 cases were misdiagnosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by chest CT combined with bronchoscopy in all the patients. Thirty-six broncholiths were revealed, of which 26 were intraluminal, 9 eroding in the bronchial wall, and 1 peribronchial. In 26 patients, 31 broncholiths were managed by flexible bronchoscope, and 25 broncholiths were successfully removed. The success rate for intraluminal free broncholiths was higher (23/25). One patient experienced hemoptysis of 300 ml after therapy, but no significant complications occurred in other patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis of broncholithiasis can be easily missed or misdiagnosed. Chest CT combined with bronchoscopy were useful methods for the diagnosis of the disease. Extraction of broncholiths with flexible bronchoscope is a safe and effective management, especially for intraluminal broncholiths.
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Yu-chao
authors: YC
authors: Dong
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Chong
authors: C
authors: Bai
authors: Jia-xi
authors: JX
authors: Feng
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Yi-ping
authors: YP
authors: Han
authors: Xiao-peng
authors: XP
authors: Yao
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002137:Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome