Читать книгу Respiratory Medicine - Stephen J. Bourke - Страница 47

Haemoptysis is the coughing up of blood. It is a very important symptom that requires investigation. In particular, it may be the first clue to the presence of bronchial carcinoma. All patients with haemoptysis should have a chest X‐ray performed, and further investigations such as bronchoscopy, computed tomography (CT), sputum cytology and microbiology may be indicated, depending on the circumstances. The most important causes of haemoptysis are bronchial carcinoma, lung infections (pneumonia, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis), chronic bronchitis, pulmonary infarction, pulmonary vasculitis and pulmonary oedema (pink frothy sputum) (Table 2.2). In some cases, no cause is found, and the origin of the blood may have been in the upper airway (e.g. nose [epistaxis], pharynx or gums).