Evaluation of effects of bronchiectasis on bronchial artery diameter with multidetector computed tomography

Background: Among patients with increased bronchial artery diameter there is a significant association between hemoptysis and bronchiectasis score. The higher score of bronchiectasis, the higher risk of hemoptysis development. Purpose: To investigate the association of stages of bronchiectasis based on a computed tomography (CT) grading system, with bronchial artery diameter and hemoptysis in patients with bronchiectasis. Material and Methods: Patients with lung pathologies other than bronchiectasis, which may cause hemoptysis, were excluded from the study. One hundred and forty-five patients who underwent contrast-enhanced thorax CT by a 64-detector CT for various indications, and who were diagnosed with bronchiectasis, were evaluated retrospectively. CT examinations were carried out by two radiologists with 9 and 4 years of experience with chest radiology, respectively. The diameters of the right and left bronchial arteries were measured 1 cm from the aortic origin and perpendicular to the vessel axis. Cases were assessed based on the Bhalla CT scoring system. The hemoptysis history of every patient was taken. Results: The diameters of the right and left bronchial arteries were significantly greater in patients with scores of 2 and 3 bronchiectasis than in patients with a score of 1. This was significantly greater in patients with a score of 3 than in patients with a score of 2 ( P < 0.05). In patients with a score of 1, the right bronchial artery diameter was significantly greater than that of the left bronchial artery ( P < 0.05). Right bronchial artery diameters were significantly greater than left bronchial artery diameters in score 3 patients ( P < 0.05). A significant association was observed between hemoptysis and bronchiectasis in patients with increased bronchial artery diameter ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: In patients with bronchiectasis, as the stage of bronchiectasis increases, the bronchial artery diameters and the risk of hemoptysis increase. We think that in patients who are diagnosed with bronchiectasis via multidetector CT (MDCT), based on scoring with bronchial artery diameters, the risk of hemoptysis can be estimated, and early management plans can be implemented.