Multiple bronchial stenoses: treatment by mechanical dilatation

Four patients with multiple bronchial stenoses are described. Two patients had pulmonary sarcoidosis, the third probably had berylliosis, and the aetiology in unknown in the fourth. Their symptoms included dyspnoea, wheeze, stridor, and frequent chest infections. The bronchial stenoses were demonstrated by tomography, flow volume studies, and bronchoscopy. Corticosteroids were ineffective but improvement followed bougie dilatation at rigid bronchoscopy.