Broncholithiasis managed by surgical resection

Abstract

Broncholithiasis is frequently associated with hemoptysis and infection. The most common cause of the disease is the presence of calcified material in a bronchus or in a cavity communicating with a bronchus. We present two cases of broncholithiasis treated by surgery. Case 1 involves a 57-year-old woman who presented with cough and bloody sputum. She had suffered from recurrent pneumonia in the left lower lobe caused by broncholithiasis for 2 years. We performed left S6 segmentectomy with bronchoplasty after unsuccessful bronchoscopic removal. Case 2 is a 65-year-old man who had had hilar tuberculous lymphoadenopathy at the age of 20. Recently he had suffered from recurrent bloody sputum and pulmonary suppuration for 3 years. We performed right upper lobectomy because the right B3 was occluded by inflammatory granulation with calcification. Postoperatively, these two patients have been alive and well with no complications. The indications of surgery for broncholithiasis include a difficult bronchoscopic broncholithectomy, massive hemoptysis, and irreversible complications such as chronic pulmonary suppurative disease.