DIAGNOSIS OF BRONCHOLITHIASIS - ROLE OF H IGH-RESOLUTION COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY

Purpose: to evaluate high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the diagnosis of broncholithiasis. Patients and methods: 10 patients with broncholithiasis underwent chest X ray, fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) , CT and HRCT. Results: in 9 cases, chest X rays were abnormal but the diagnosis of broncholithiasis can't never be affirmed. In 9 cases, FO B was abnormal: broncholith were identified in only 2 cases; the other diagnosis were tumor like stenosis (n = 3), inflammatory stenosis (n = 3), extrinsic compression (n = 1). On conventionnal CT scan, broncho lithiasis was suspected in 8 patients but because of volume averaging the relationship between calcified lymph nodes and bronchial tree was difficult to determine exactly. Only HRCT sections, sometimes tilted i n the axis of the middle lobar bronchus, can affirm the endobronchial or peribronchial location of calcified lymph nodes in all patients. Co nclusion: conventional CT scan can suggest the presence of broncholith iasis but HRCT sections are need to affirm the diagnosis.