A Case of Repeated Hemoptysis Caused by Rupture Bronchial Artery Hyperplasia in an Old Pulmonary Infarction Lesion

Abstract

A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of repeated hemoptysis. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy and chest CT showed no bronchiectatic findings. Bronchial arteriography revealed hypervascular lesion and dilated tortous bronchial artery in the right upper lobe. Bronchial artery embolization could not be performed because of very strong meandering. Wedge resection of the upper lobe and clipping of the upper bronchial artery were performed under VATS. Histopathological findings revealed hemoptysis caused by a rupture of the enlarged and meandering bronchial artery in the old pulmonary infarction lesion. Left leg venography revealed the deep vein (left common iliac vein) thrombosis which was considered as a cause of the pulmonary infarction. A permanent filter was placed into the inferior vena cava below the bilateral renal veins. Asymptomatic pulmonary infarction should be considered as a cause of unknown intrabronchial bleeding.