A Case of Massive Hemoptysis & Pneumonia Caused by Metallic Foreign Body.

Chang, Choon Hee; Lee, Jang Eun; Park, Hyung Wook; Lee, Jeong Hwa; Yang, Seung Ah; Park, Young Kun; Lee, Sang Rok; An, Jin Young

doi:2006.61.6.567

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 61(6); 2006 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2006;61(6):567-572.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2006.61.6.567 Published online December 1, 2006.

A Case of Massive Hemoptysis & Pneumonia Caused by Metallic Foreign Body.

Choon Hee Chang, Jang Eun Lee, Hyung Wook Park, Jeong Hwa Lee, Seung Ah Yang, Young Kun Park, Sang Rok Lee, Jin Young An

¹Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.
²Department of Internal Medicine, Cheongju St. Mary's Hospital. Cheongju, Korea. drahnjy@mdhouse.com

Abstract

Endobronchial foreign bodies are difficult to diagnose as the cause of obstructive pneumonia and atelectasis, However, once discovered, they can generally be removed, leading to an immediate and dramatic resolution of the symptoms. Occasionally, small foreign bodies that lodge in the peripheral airway are often initially asymptomatic but become symptomatic several years later. We reported a case of obstructive pneumonia and massive hemoptysis caused by a foreign metallic body. The patient knew that the foreign body was lodged in the peripheral airway on the chest X-ray, but did not want treatment. Several years later, he had a massive hemoptysis and obstructive pneumonia. Removal with a flexible bronchoscope failed, but the metallic foreign body was self-expectorated by coughing after the procedure. The pneumonia was resolved after removing the foreign body. The patient improved and was discharged without any sequela.

Key Words: Foreign body, Hemoptysis, Obstructive pneumonia