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

Choi, Soo Jeon; Jo, Moon Suk; Lee, Hyuk Pyo; Kim, Joo In; Yum, Ho Kee

doi:1998.45.2.416

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 45(2); 1998 > Article

Case Report

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 1998;45(2):416-420.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.1998.45.2.416 Published online April 1, 1998.

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

Soo Jeon Choi, Moon Suk Jo, Hyuk Pyo Lee, Joo In Kim, Ho Kee Yum

Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.

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.

Key Words: Biphasic flow-volume loop, Stenosis, Mainstem bronchus