Use of Narrow Band Imaging in diagnosis of Unexplained Hemoptysis; A Case Report: Endobronchial Telangiectasia

Abstract

R ecurrent nonmassive hemoptysis is one of the common outpatient visits in a pulmonary clinic and, in many cases, the cause of hemoptysis remains unknown. We describe a case of recurrent nonmassive hemoptysis of an unknown cause, which was eventually diagnosed as endobronchial telangiectasia using narrow band imaging during bronchoscopy. Abstract Nonmassive hemoptysis is a frequently encountered consultation at the pulmonary clinic and a few cases are commonly inconclusive. We present a case of unexplained chronic nonmassive hemoptysis, which was finally diagnosed as endobronchial telangiectasia, a rare cause of hemoptysis. Endobronchial telangiectasia can lead to massive hemoptysis, which occasionally can be missed by a casual examination during Flexible bronchoscopy, and these patients may undergo multiple diagnostic procedures before the diagnosis is established. Using narrow band imaging during flexible bronchoscopy can help the pulmonologist to identify the culprit lesions, which would otherwise be missed.