RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Melanoptysis as a complication of fibreoptic bronchoscopy
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 993
OP 995
DO 10.1183/09031936.98.12040993
VO 12
IS 4
A1 MJ Mena
A1 MJ Rodriguez-Nieto
A1 M Gomez
A1 J Flandes
A1 R Melchor
YR 1998
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/12/4/993.abstract
AB The case is presented of a coal miner with bilateral masses of progressive massive fibrosis, who developed acute cavitation following fibreoptic bronchoscopy and biopsies. Indeed, immediately upon bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy, there was expectoration of abundant melanoptysis. Three days later, the chest radiograph showed a cavity and the patient again coughed up black material, in the context of pulmonary infection. One week later, there was complete emptying of the conglomerate mass. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a conglomerate mass of progressive massive fibrosis which cavitated as a result of bronchoscopy.