Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Measuring Subepithelial Thickness Using Endobronchial Ultrasonography in a Patient with Asthma: A Case Report

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Lung Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The chronic inflammation of bronchial asthma is characterized by swelling of the subepithelial mucosa. However, it is difficult to assess subepithelial edema clinically. We report the case of a patient with asthma whose subepithelial edema was evaluated by endobronchial ultrasonography. Receiving montelukast 10 mg/day for 2 weeks, a 42-year-old man with mild, persistent asthma had his symptoms controlled by β2-inhalation alone. Pretreatment endobronchial ultrasonography revealed subepithelial thickening in the right main stem bronchus, with a low absorption area suggestive of edema. Two weeks of montelukast therapy diminished the amount of subepithelial edema. Endobronchial ultrasonography is a promising technique for determining subepithelial edema in the asthmatic airway.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. InstitutionalAuthorNameAmerican Thoracic Society (1987) ArticleTitleStandardization of spirometry. Am Rev Respir Dis 136 1285–1298 Occurrence Handle3674589

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. HD Becker F Herth (2000) Endobronchial ultrasound of the airways and the mediastinum. CT Bolliger PN Mathur (Eds) Interventional bronchoscopy progress in respiratory research, vol 30. Karger Basel 80–93

    Google Scholar 

  3. H Bisgaard (2000) ArticleTitleRole of leukotriene in asthma pathophysiology. Pediatr Pulmonol 30 166–176 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1099-0496(200008)30:2<166::AID-PPUL15>3.0.CO;2-L Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvmtVagsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10922142

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. WJ Calhoun BJ Lavins MC Minkwitz R Evans GJ Gleich J Cohn (1998) ArticleTitleEffect of zafirlukast (Accolate) on airway inflammation: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid findings after segmental antigen challenge. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 157 1381–1389 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3msVamsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9603112

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. JA Elias Z Zhu G Chupp RJ Homer (1994) ArticleTitleAirway remodeling in asthma. J Clin Invest 104 1001

    Google Scholar 

  6. N Kurimoto M Murayama S Yoshioka T Nishisaka K Inai K Dohi (1999) ArticleTitleAssessment of usefulness of endobronchial ultrasonography in determination of depth of tracheobronchial tumor invasion. Chest 115 1500–1506 Occurrence Handle10.1378/chest.115.6.1500 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzgsVyrtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10378540

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. J Huang B Olivenstein R Taha Q Hamid M Ludwig (1999) ArticleTitleEnhanced proteoglycan deposition in the airway wall of atopic asthmatic. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 160 725–729 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzlvFOhsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10430752

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. N Kurimoto M Murayama K Morita A Kobayashi M Uomoto T Nishisaka (1998) ArticleTitleClinical applications of endobronchial ultrasonography in lung disease. Endoscopy 30 A8–12 Occurrence Handle9765074

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. N Kurimoto M Murayama S Yoshioka T Nishisaka K Inai K Dohi (1999) ArticleTitleAssessment of usefulness of endobronchial ultrasonography in determination of depth of tracheobronchial tumor invasion. Chest 115 1500–1506 Occurrence Handle10.1378/chest.115.6.1500 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzgsVyrtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10378540

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. S Lam HD Becker (1996) ArticleTitleFuture diagnostic procedures. Chest Surg Clin North Am 6 363–380 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymA3MrjsV0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Y Miyazu T Miyazawa Y Iwamoto K Kano N Kurimoto (2001) ArticleTitleThe role of endoscopic techniques, laser-induced fluorescence bronchoscopy, and endobronchial ultrasonography in choice of appropriate therapy for bronchial cancer. J Bronchol 8 10–16 Occurrence Handle10.1097/01.lbr.0000011069.15290.1e

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Y Miyazu T Miyazawa N Kurimoto Y Iwamoto K Kanoh N Kohno (2002) ArticleTitleEndobronchial ultrasonography in the assessment of centrally located early-stage lung cancer before photodynamic therapy. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 165 832–837 Occurrence Handle11897652

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Y Nakamura M Hoshino JJ Sim K Ishii K Hosaka T Sakamoto (1998) ArticleTitleEffect of the leukotriene receptor antagonist pranlukast on cellular infiltration in the bronchial mucosa of patients with asthma. Thorax 53 835–841 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3gvFCnuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10193369

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. A Niimi H Matsumoto R Amitani Y Nakano M Mishima M Minakuchi K Nishimura H Itoh T Izumi (2000) ArticleTitleAirway wall thickness in asthma assessed by computed tomography. Relation to clinical indices. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 162 1518–1523 Occurrence Handle11029371

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. E Pizzichini JA Leff TF Reiss L Hendeles LP Boulet LX Wei AE Efthimiadis J Zhang FE Hargreave (1999) ArticleTitleMontelukast reduces airway eosinophilic inflammation in asthma: a randomized, controlled trial. Eur Respir J 14 12–18 Occurrence Handle10.1034/j.1399-3003.1999.14a04.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXmtFOkt70%3D Occurrence Handle10489822

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. DP Tashkin (2002) ArticleTitleThe role of small airway inflammation in asthma. Allergy Asthma Proc 23 233–242 Occurrence Handle12221892

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-machi, Yonago-shi, Tottori-ken 683-8504, Japan

    A. Yamasaki, K. Tomita, H. Sano, M. Watanabe, H. Makino, J. Kurai, Y. Hitsuda & E. Shimizu

Authors
  1. A. Yamasaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. Tomita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Sano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Watanabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Makino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J. Kurai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Y. Hitsuda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. E. Shimizu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Tomita.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yamasaki, A., Tomita, K., Sano, H. et al. Measuring Subepithelial Thickness Using Endobronchial Ultrasonography in a Patient with Asthma: A Case Report. Surg Endosc 181, 115–120 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-003-1012-3

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-003-1012-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation