[Diagnosis of haemoptoe/haemoptysis].

Haemoptysis and haemoptoe mainly differ in the amount of expectorated blood. Causes of haemoptysis are diverse and include bronchitis, bronchiectasis, carcinoma, tuberculosis and other infectious pulmonary disease. Haemoptysis almost exclusively involves bronchial arteries, rarely vessels of the pulmonary-artery circuit. Asphyxia rather than the loss of blood ist life-threatening. 20 - 30 % of bronchopulmonary bleeding happens without any identifiable cause, about 90 % of haemoptyses are self-terminating. Chest X-ray is an integral part in each evaluation, as is bronchoscopy. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is easily performed, although rigid bronchoscopy considerably extends the armamentarium of diagnostic and therapeutic measures. (Pulmangio-) chest CT scan as well as echocardiography and angiographic procedures provide extended diagnostic and therapeutic options. Surgery may be required in severe bleeding complications or during stable disease as a diagnostic approach.