Haemoptysis

The aim of this topic is to consider the diseases that may cause haemoptysis, including lung cancer, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, pulmonary infarction and pulmonary oedema.

Learning objectives:

At the completion of this topic you should be able to:

1. List the common diseases that underpin haemoptysis, and describe the pathogenetic mechanisms.
2. Describe the nature of scientific evidence linking cigarette smoking to the development of lung cancer.
3. Compare the biological behaviour of small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, and discuss the implications that the differences in behaviour may have for the management of patients with those lesions.
4. Describe the common modes of spread of lung cancer, and relate the pathological changes at each stage of the disease with possible clinical manifestations.
5. Describe the common causes, morphology and clinical manifestations of bronchiectasis.
6. List the causes of a lung abscess, and indicate why such a lesion may produce haemoptysis.
7. Describe the pathogenesis of primary and post-primary tuberculosis, and relate this to the typical pathological findings in each stage of the disease.
8. Describe diagnostic procedures appropriate to the investigation of haemoptysis, including the role of sputum cytology.
9. Describe investigations appropriate to the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

1. Explain the clinical effects of primary bronchogenic carcinoma that are due to local growth and invasion.
2. List the factors associated with reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis, and outline the clinical features.

Case protocol associated with this topic - 19

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