title: Multinodule abnormalities of the tracheobronchus: bronchoscopy findings and clinical diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bronchoscopy is an important method for diagnosing respiratory disease. Multiple tracheobronchial nodules are rarely reported and their causes remain unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of multiple nodule tracheobronchial abnormalities found under bronchoscopy caused by different diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven patients with multiple tracheobronchial nodules were enrolled in this study. The characteristics of the multinodule lesions and the patient were diagnosed based on the pathology findings in our hospital. Chest computed tomography images were retrospectively reviewed by pulmonologists and radiologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 55 patients with definite pathological diagnosis, 16 (29%) patients were diagnosed as tuberculosis (TB) granuloma; 23 (41.8%) cases were diagnosed as malignant disease; 12 (21.8%) cases were diagnosed as tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica; 2 (3.6%) cases were diagnosed as sarcoidosis; and one case (1.8%) was diagnosed as lymphoma and one case (1.8%) as fungal infection. There were 32 cases of chronic inflammation. There was no relationship between nodule distribution and the pathological diagnosis. Malignant nodules usually smaller with a pale outlook, while nodules with larger size and smooth and intact mucosa usually turn out to be granuloma of unknown reason.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The major causes of mutinodule lesions observed using bronchoscopy are tumor and TB. The presence of multiple endotracheobronchial nodules suggest that pulmonary lesion is present, and biopsy should be performed. Malignant nodules can be diagnosed by appearance and biopsy. Pathology results of TB, sarcoidosis and fungal infection can turn out to be granuloma of unknown reason. Further diagnosis needs other clinical materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Hua-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Pin-Hua
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Bai-Ling
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine (Key cite of National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease), Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan province, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology
keywords: bronchoscopy and interventional techniques - inflammation - lung cancer - pathology - tuberculosis