Fibrobronchoscopy in diagnosis of atelectasis: report of 590 cases

Objective: To assess the value of fibrobronchoscopy in diagnosis of atelectasis.Methods: Five hundred and ninety patients with atelectasis confirmed by X-rays and computed chest tomograms(CT) were examined by fibrobronchoscopy,and the causes of disease,the features of fibrobronchoscopy,the location and age of the patients were analyzed.Results: Of the 590 cases,lung cancer accounted for 428,chronic inflammation was observed in 133 cases,tuberculosis in 21 cases,foreign bodies in 5 cases,aspergillus in 2 cases and lymphoma in 1 case.Conclusions: Fibrobronchoscopy is an important means in pathological diagnosis of atelectasis.Patients with atelectasis should resort to fibrobronchoscopy as early as possible.