Classification on Bronchoscopic Findings and Scanning Electron Micrographs of Bronchial Mucosa in Patients with Chronic Bronchitis

Abstract

Bronchoscopic findings in 22 patients with chronic bronchitis were classified into four types ; edematous type, hypertrophic type, transition type, and atrophic type. The transition type in the classification was particularly characterized by findings of rough mucosal surface, thickened longitudinal mucosal folds, enlarged submucosal gland openings, narrow bronchial lumen, distorted cartilage, and irregular bifurcation. Fourteen biopsy specimens of the bronchus which were obtained using a bronchoscope were observed with a scanning electron microscope and two types were classified in relation to their clinical symptoms ; poorly regenerated type and well regenerated type. The latter was subclassified into four stages ; namely, nonciliated stage, early stage of regeneration, mid stage of regeneration, and completely regenerated stage. These four stages coincided with clinical symptom.