Prediction of recurrent hemoptysis with MDCT angiography

To identify the computed tomography (CT) findings to predict recurrent bleeding in patients with massive hemoptysis.

Fifty-eight patients with massive hemoptysis underwent both CT and conventional bronchial angiography for bronchial artery embolization. Retrospective analysis was done to analyze the statistical differences in the initial CT findings between the nonrecurrent and recurrent hemoptysis groups using the Mann-Whitney U test and the chi or Fisher exact test. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to find predictive variables for the recurrence of hemoptysis.

After embolization, recurrence of hemoptysis was observed in 15 of 58 patients (26%). The diameter of bronchial (P = 0.001) and nonbronchial systemic arteries (P < 0.05), total number of dilated bronchial and nonbronchial systemic arteries (P = 0.001), pleural thickening (P = 0.01), extrapleural fat thickening (P = 0.004), and enhancing vascular structures within the extrapleural fat layer (P = 0.04) were significantly different in the nonrecurrent and recurrent hemoptysis groups. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the total number of dilated bronchial and nonbronchial systemic arteries (odds ratio, 3.540; 95% confidence interval: 1.175, 10.662; P = 0.025) was a significant CT variable associated with the recurrence of hemoptysis.

CT bronchial angiography may help in the prediction of recurrent bleeding in patients with massive hemoptysis.