Tuberc Respir Dis.  1998 Apr;45(2):416-420.

A Case of Biphasic Flow-volume Loop in Left Mainstem Bronchial Stenosis

• Choi SJ
• Jo MS
• Lee HP
• Kim JI
• Yum HK

Abstract

Flow-volume loop is known to be useful in the diagnosis of upper airway obstruction. In cases of tracheal obstruction, characteristic features such as fixed or variable upper airway obstruction patterns give clue to the diagnosis. But the flow-volume loop of unilateral mainstem bronchial stenosis is not known well. There is controversy in patterns of flow-volume loop in unilateral mainstem bronchial stenosis (restrictive pattern or biphasic pattern). We report a case of biphasic flow-volume loop in left mainstem bronchial stenosis(4-5 mm in diameter) as a sequela of endobronchial tuberculosis, which recovered normal flow-volume loop after metallic stent insertion and 2 months later showed reappearance of biphasic pattern because of restenosis of left mainstem bronchus due to growth of granulation tissue at the stent site.

Keyword

Biphasic flow-volume loop; Stenosis; Mainstem bronchus

MeSH Terms

Airway Obstruction
Bronchi
Constriction, Pathologic*
Diagnosis
Granulation Tissue
Stents
Tuberculosis