Abstract
Broncholithiasis is the presence of calcified material in the bronchial lumen. Bronchial fibroscopy and thoracic CT are the main paraclinical elements for diagnosis. However, most broncholithiasis is fortuitous discovery intraoperatively. The evolution may be marked by complications in the underlying lung, or fistulization in the mediastinal structures especially the esophagus. Early on, management can be simple monitoring or endoscopic extraction of broncholithiasis. Surgery remains the only option in case of complications. The authors report 2 cases of broncholithiasis, one of which was diagnosed radiologically and the other of incidental discovery during the surgical exploration of a lesion of the right lower lobe.
Highlights
Broncholithiasis is a rare pathology that corresponds to the presence of calcareous concretions in the bronchial lumen
Broncholithiasis is the presence of calcified material in the bronchial lumen secondary to the erosion of the bronchial wall by interbronchial or hilar calcified ganglia, most often of tuberculous bronchial origin [1]
The diagnosis of broncholithiasis is essentially made by the combination of bronchoscopic bronchoscopy, which allows the direct visualization of the broncholith in about 24% to 56% of cases, and the thoracic CT scan, which shows the endoluminal or peribronchial character of calcification [7] [9]
Summary
Broncholithiasis is a rare pathology that corresponds to the presence of calcareous concretions in the bronchial lumen. It is secondary, most often, to the erosion of the bronchial wall by calcified ganglia, often of tubercular origin, sitting in close proximity to the bronchus. The diagnosis is based on a combination of thoracic CT and bronchial fibroscopy, but a chance finding during surgery is possible [1]. Broncholithiasis remains an unpredictable pathology of evolution, and the most feared complication remains fistulization in mediatalisal structures mainly the esophagus.
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