Bronchial Dieulafoy disease managed with interventional embolization: a case study and literature perspective

Bronchial Dieulafoy disease (BDD) is a rare vascular anomaly that can cause severe hemoptysis, often complicating the management of patients with unexplained bleeding. Misdiagnosis and inappropriate procedures, such as blind bronchoscopic biopsies, can lead to catastrophic hemorrhage. This study is aimed to enhance clinicians' understanding of BDD and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventional treatment strategies in preventing severe hemorrhage.

The patient, a male, 34 years old, was admitted to the hospital due to a 3-year history of intermittent hemoptysis, which had worsened over the past 12 days. Symptoms included intermittent hemoptysis accompanied by occasional chest tightness and shortness of breath but without nausea or vomiting. A contrast-enhanced chest CT scan conducted on May 13, 2020, consistent with Dieulafoy disease. The patient underwent right femoral artery puncture, bronchial artery angiography and malformed artery embolization. The procedure was completed successfully without complications. Postoperatively, the patient exhibited no further symptoms of hemoptysis. During the out-of-hospital follow-up, the patient experienced no recurrence of hemoptysis.

Although rare, BDD should be considered in cases of unexplained hemoptysis, especially to prevent severe bleeding during blind bronchoscopic biopsies. Interventional embolization of abnormal arteries offers a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment option, making it a key approach in managing this condition.