Cantin et al reported a flowchart for focusing the diagnosis of bronchiectasis. The authors are from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Parameters:
(1) pattern (focal vs diffuse)
(2) distribution (central vs peripheral)
(3) predominant lobe(s) if peripheral
|
Pattern
|
Distribution
|
Predominance
|
Group
|
|
focal
|
NA
|
NA
|
1
|
|
diffuse
|
central
|
NA
|
2
|
|
diffuse
|
peripheral
|
upper lobe
|
3
|
|
diffuse
|
peripheral
|
lower lobe
|
4
|
|
diffuse
|
peripheral
|
right middle lobe and/or lingula
|
5
|
Group 1:
(1) congenital bronchial atresia
(2) extrinsic compression
(3) endobronchial malignancy
(4) foreign body
(5) broncholithiasis
(6) airway stenosis
Group 2:
(1) allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
(2) Mounier-Kuhn syndrome (tracheobronchomegaly)
(3) Williams-Campbell syndrome (cartilage deficiency with widespread air trapping)
Group 3:
(1) cystic fibrosis
(2) sarcoidosis
(3) postradiation fibrosis
Group 4:
(1) idiopathic
(2) postinfectious
(3) repeated aspiration
(4) fibrotic lung disease
(5) post-transplant rejection
(6) hypogammaglobulinemia
Group 5:
(1) atypical mycobacterial infection (MAI)
(2) immobile cilia syndrome
