Radiological and endoscopic examination in diagnosis and treatment of patients with lung cavities

Abstract

We observed 155 patients aged 18 to 70 had been admitted to a hospital for lung cavities. Complex radiological and endoscopic examination revealed peripheral lung carcinomas with cavitation in 25 patients, lung abscess in 105, lung tuberculosis in 13, lung aspergillosis in 4, echinococcus in 2, lung cysts in 3, and emphysematous bullae in 3 patients. So, lung cavities detected during radiological examination require bronchoscopy with various kinds of biopsy to verify a diagnosis. This increases the diagnosis accuracy from 45.9 to 78.8 %. Combination of radiological methods with bronchoscopy and thoracoscopic biopsy helps to reach the diagnosis in 97.6 %.Therapeutic bronchoscopy with intrabronchial lymphotropic antimicrobial and immune therapy and laser irradiation is effective in 96.2 % of patients with lung abscess.