Oikawa Rieko, Takahara Yutaka, Yamaya Atsuyo, Saito Masatoshi, Kojima Kouji, Tachi Yuki, Oikawa Taku, Nakagawa Ken, Tsuchihara Katsuma, Iguchi Masaharu, Tobe Takeyasu, Takahashi Masakatsu, Huang Jyongsu, Osanai Kazuhiro, Toga Hirohisa
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University.
Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi. 2008 Feb;46(2):126-30.
An abnormal chest shadow was pointed out in a 56-year-old woman in a health check in 2001. She had pulmonary tuberculosis at age 11. Because of repeated fever for the previous 2 years, she visited our hospital in 2003 and right upper lobe pneumonia was detected with a calcified nodule that completely obstructed the right upper lobe bronchus on CT. After admission, she spontaneously expectorated a stone. The composition of the stone was 57% calcium phosphate and 43% calcium carbonate. Radiological findings and the composition of the stone suggested that this broncholith was calcified bronchial mucus rather than a calcified lymph node that might have perforated into the airway. Bronchiectasis of the right B3 broncus was observed on CT scan after lithoptysis. Although the bronchiectasis was unchanged 2 years later, she had no symptoms, such as fever or cough.