[Bronchoscopic evaluation of 390 cases of hemoptysis without definite abnormality on the chest roentgenogram]

From Jan 1981 through Oct. 1988, fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination was undertaken in 390 patients with hemoptysis and basically normal chest roentgenogram or prominent pulmonary markings. A diagnosis of malignancy was made in sixteen cases (4.1 percent). The positive rates in was higher in those were heavy smokers or in patients of age greater than 40 years, whose bloody sputum rate were significantly higher than non-smoking patients whose age were less than 40 years, and patients coughed up cupfull of blood intermittently, (P less than 0.005). The absolute indication of bronchoscopic examination in patients with hemopstysis and a basically normal chest X-ray film are those who are greater than 40 years old, heavy smokers, coughing up bloody sputum and no improvement by active treatment for two weeks.