Chronic Bronchitis:
Clinical:
Chronic bronchitis is considered to be present if the patient has chronic or recurrent excess mucus production that is not caused by a specific disease such as bronchiectasis or tuberculosus and is often associated with chronic productive cough. Chronic excess mucus production is defined as occurring on most days of 3 months in 2 successive years. Chronic airflow obstruction is commonly present with reduction in FEV1, FVC, and the FEV1/FVC ratio. The residual volume is increased. Morphologic abnormalities include bronchial wall thickening, mucous gland enlargement, increased mucous production, smooth muscle hyperplasia, inflammation, and small airways abnormalities.X-ray:
CXR is normal in 40-50% of patients. Abnormalities which may be identified in the other cases include mild bronchial wall thickening (producing linear or ring shadows), an overall increase in non-specific lung markings (dirty lungs), and overinflation [3]. On HRCT, a non-specific peripheral "tree-in-bud" pattern may be seen indicating the presence of bronchiolar dilatation and filling of the lumen by mucus, pus, or fluid.(2) Radiol Clin North Am 1998; Stulbarg MS, et al. Obstructive pulmonary disease: The clinicaian's perspective. 36 (1): 1-13
(3) Radiol Clin North Am 1998; Takasugi JE, et al. Radiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 36 (1): 29-55 (Review)
