Investigations
Chest x ray
CT scan of the chest.
Bronchoscopy uses a small flexible camera to visualize the airways. The procedure can assess both the large and small airways, and biopsies can be obtained.
Sometimes a lesion may be seen on a chest x ray and a biopsy may be obtained by a needle using x ray guidance.
If it is believed that the hemoptysis is from a disorder of the heart, then one may undergo other studies like an ECG and an ECHO
One should always see a physician when hemoptysis occurs. While many benign causes may resolve spontaneously, the possibility of a lung cancer must always be ruled out, especially if one is a smoker. Sometimes no cause of hemoptysis is identified and monitoring is required.
Hemoptysis is not a symptom that should be managed at home. It is highly recommended that one see a health professional and determine the cause.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Coughing up blood: Part 2
Individuals who develop heart failure often develop episodes of hemoptysis. The coughing discontinues when the heart failure is treated.
In some rare patients with a blood clot in the lung will have hemoptysis. The hemoptysis is mild and usually resolves with time
Occasionally severe blunt or penetrating trauma to the chest can result in hemoptysis. In such a scenario, the individual is admitted and thoroughly worked up to ensure that no critical structure is damaged.
In very rare instances, some individuals who sniff cocaine or heroin also develop episodes of hemoptysis
The most feared and serious cause of hemoptysis is lung cancer. There are some lung cancers that grow centrally and these cancers can erode into major blood vessels and present with alarming hemorrhage. Sometimes, coughing up of blood may be the first sign of a presence of a lung cancer
Irrespective of the amount of hemoptysis, one needs to be seen by a physician. Some of the standard imaging studies in the work up of hemoptysis include:
In some rare patients with a blood clot in the lung will have hemoptysis. The hemoptysis is mild and usually resolves with time
Occasionally severe blunt or penetrating trauma to the chest can result in hemoptysis. In such a scenario, the individual is admitted and thoroughly worked up to ensure that no critical structure is damaged.
In very rare instances, some individuals who sniff cocaine or heroin also develop episodes of hemoptysis
The most feared and serious cause of hemoptysis is lung cancer. There are some lung cancers that grow centrally and these cancers can erode into major blood vessels and present with alarming hemorrhage. Sometimes, coughing up of blood may be the first sign of a presence of a lung cancer
Irrespective of the amount of hemoptysis, one needs to be seen by a physician. Some of the standard imaging studies in the work up of hemoptysis include:
Why am I coughing up blood?
Coughing up blood is known as hemoptysis. For one thing, coughing up blood is not normal. No matter how much blood is coughed up, it can be quite frightening. In the majority of people, coughing up blood is not due to any serious medical disorder. However, in a few patients coughing up blood may be due to a lung cancer. The most common causes of coughing up blood include:
Bronchitis. This is commonly seen in individuals who smoke but the amount of blood coughed up is small
Pneumonia: In very rare cases, some types of pneumonia may induce coughing of blood. Once the pneumonia is treated, the coughing stops
Bronchiectasis is a disorder where there is destruction of lung, which results in repeated and moderate amounts of hemoptysis. The amount of blood coughed up can be frightening and most people require admission to the hospital
Tuberculosis is one of the most common disorders that causes coughing up of blood. Once the infection is treated, hemoptysis subsides.
Lung abscess (pus in the lung) is another common cause of hemoptysis. This infection is typically seen in alcoholics and individuals who aspirate oral contents into their lungs
Sometimes violent coughing may be associated with minute amounts of blood in the sputum. This disorder is benign and usually resolves when the coughing is treated
Bronchitis. This is commonly seen in individuals who smoke but the amount of blood coughed up is small
Pneumonia: In very rare cases, some types of pneumonia may induce coughing of blood. Once the pneumonia is treated, the coughing stops
Bronchiectasis is a disorder where there is destruction of lung, which results in repeated and moderate amounts of hemoptysis. The amount of blood coughed up can be frightening and most people require admission to the hospital
Tuberculosis is one of the most common disorders that causes coughing up of blood. Once the infection is treated, hemoptysis subsides.
Lung abscess (pus in the lung) is another common cause of hemoptysis. This infection is typically seen in alcoholics and individuals who aspirate oral contents into their lungs
Sometimes violent coughing may be associated with minute amounts of blood in the sputum. This disorder is benign and usually resolves when the coughing is treated
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