A Case Report of Thoracic Enhanced Chest CT Combined with Endobronchial Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Asymptomatic Bronchial Dieulafoy's Disease

Abstract

We reported a rare case of asymptomatic bronchial Dieulafoy's disease diagnosed by enhanced chest CT combined with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS). The enhanced chest CT showed nodular neoplasm in the left main bronchus and partial enhancement in arterial phase. Bronchoscopy showed nodular mucosal protrusion lesion at the distal end of the left main bronchus, and the protrusion lesion had smooth surface and no pulsation, with some microvessels on it, and obvious submocasal blood flow signals were seen by endobronchial ultrasound. The diagnosis of bronchial Dieulafoy disease was considered based on the above findings and biopsy was not performed. In patients without haemoptysis, if there are nodular neoplasms in the main airway on bronchoscopy, enhanced chest CT combined with EBUS can be used to diagnose bronchial Dieulafoy's disease and avoid fatal haemorrhage due to conventional biopsy. The method is non-invasive, safe and effective, and worthy of clinical application.

Keywords

• bronchial dieulafoy's disease
• endobronchial ultrasound
• enhanced chest ct
• hemoptysis