A Case of a Plant Seed Bronchial Foreign Body Showing Atelectasis of the Right Lower Lobe

Abstract

A 72-year-old male was admitted with asthma-like cough and sputum. Atelectasis of the right lower lobe was recognized roentgenologically and suspected lung cancer. Bronchofiberscopic examination under local anesthesia revealed granulations around the bronchial wall and a foreign body obstructing the right truncus intermedius were observed. The foreign body was successfully removed by bigger, rigid forceps inserted into the broncus through a rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia. With the flexible bronchofiberscope, we could not capture the foreign body with biopsy forceps. The foreign body was a plant seed. After the foreign body was removed, the chest X-ray film showed improvement of the atelectasis and the granulation was observed to decrease by bronchofiberscopy. The patient did not remember when the body entered his bronchus.