Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TPO) is an uncommon benign disease of unknown etiology characterized by multiple cartilaginous or bony submucosal nodules, which project into the tracheobronchial lumen. The nodules originate in the airway cartilages and thus typically spare the posterior membranous wall of the airways. The disorder is more common in men and the diagnosis is usually made in the fourth through sixth decades of life.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a rare pulmonary disorder of unknown etiology characterized by intra-alveolar development and deposition of microliths or calcispherytes consisting of calcium phosphate. Approximately 400 cases of this rare disorder have been described in the literature. The age range of patients is from newborn to 80 years, with a mean age at diagnosis of about 35 years.

Bronchial artery embolization : experience with 54 patients.

Objectives: To report our experience with bronchial arteriography and bronchial artery embolization (BAE).

Materials And Methods: A review of clinical experience to evaluate the demographics, clinical presentation, radiographic studies, bronchoscopy, and complications of bronchial arteriography and BAE at Mayo Medical Center, Rochester, MN, from 1981 to 2000.

Results: Fifty-four patients underwent bronchial arteriography.

Pulmonary blastomycosis: an appraisal of diagnostic techniques.

Objectives: Pulmonary blastomycosis often mimics bacterial pneumonia or bronchogenic carcinoma, which may result in delayed therapy or the performance of unnecessary diagnostic procedures. We have reviewed the utilization of diagnostic techniques in the workup of patients with pulmonary blastomycosis, defined their diagnostic yields, and proposed an optimal diagnostic approach for the patient in whom pulmonary blastomycosis is considered.

Design: Retrospective chart review of all patients with the diagnosis of blastomycosis at a major academic medical center.

The role of anticholinergics in bronchoscopy. A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Anticholinergic medications have been utilized frequently prior to bronchoscopy and are thought to facilitate the drying of secretions to limit the amount of required topical anesthetic on the airway mucosa, prevent cardiac arrhythmias during the procedure, and increase patient comfort.

Objective: To determine if atropine or glycopyrrolate, two anticholinergic agents utilized most frequently in this setting, have any significant role for this purpose.

Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in which patients were randomly selected to receive atropine (0.