title: Suspecting non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: What the busy primary care clinician needs to know.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is a chronic, progressive respiratory disorder characterised by irreversibly and abnormally dilated airways, persistent cough, excessive sputum production and recurrent pulmonary infections. In the last several decades, its prevalence has increased, making it likely to be encountered in the primary care setting. The aim was to review the clinical presentation and diagnosis of NCFB, with an emphasis on the role of computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  For this review, trials and reports were identified from PubMed/Medline and ClinicalTrials.gov from the US NIH and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials. The search used keywords: bronchiectasis, non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, chronic pulmonary infection and computed tomography. No date/language restrictions were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis often coexists with other respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The prevalence of NCFB is increasing, particularly in women and older individuals, possibly as a result of increased physician awareness and widespread use of CT, which is the gold standard for the diagnosis of NCFB. CT can assist in identifying an underlying cause of NCFB and determining the extent and severity of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis should be suspected in the primary care setting in patients with chronic cough, purulent sputum and frequent respiratory infections that tend to resolve slowly or partially. Early diagnosis and determination of the extent and severity of the disease by CT and other tests are critical to establish therapy to improve quality of life and potentially slow progressive decline of lung function in patients with NCFB.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Diego J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bravein
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amalakuhan
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyt
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Alejandro A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Diaz
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal