A Case of Broncholithiasis Causing Recurrent Obstructive Pneumonia and which was Removed by Bronchofiberscopy

Abstract

It is important to distinguish broncholithiasis from lung cancer, because these patients commonly complain of hemosputum, fever, cough, sputum and chest pain. Previously these patients were operated on but recently bronchoscopic removal of the broncholith is performed. We experienced one case of a broncholith. The patient was 64 years old. She was admitted for obstructive pneumonia in 1985 and in 1987. Chest roentgenogram, CT, tomography showed a broncholith in the right middle lobe bronchus. Bronchofiberscopy showed that the stone was movable, so we attempted bronchoscopic removal of broncholith, and succeeded. The maximum demension of this broncholith was 13 mm which was the largest among Japanese reports. There was slight bleeding but no treatment was needed.