Jensen Dana, Andersen Poul Erik
Radiologisk Afdeling, Odense Universitetshospital, DK-500 Odense C.
Ugeskr Laeger. 2009 Aug 31;171(36):2575.
Embolisation of pathologic systemic collateral arteries to the bronchial artery system can be an effective option for haemoptysis control. Globally, tuberculosis is the most frequent cause of haemoptysis, but bronchitis, bronchiectasis, bronchogenic carcinoma and other inflammatory diseases are more frequent in the western world. The aetiology cannot be determined in 30% of the patients. In the majority of cases, a bronchial artery is the bleeding source, but in approx. 33% of the cases another systemic artery causes the bleeding. The method is non-invasive and entails few complications.