Cryptogenic hemoptysis: role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) was performed for recurrent hemoptysis in 79 patients with normal chest roentgenograms. Seventy per cent were females with a mean age of 31.93 years. Normal findings were obtained in 60 patients. In 19 patients with abnormal findings on bronchoscopy underlying malignant disease was discovered in 3 patients following bronchoscopy. All these patients were elderly male smokers. In three patients unexplained left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was discovered. Thus, FOB as a diagnostic aid for cryptogenic hemoptysis is useful only in elderly male smokers.