How Is Bronchiectasis Diagnosed?

There is no one specific test for bronchiectasis. Even in its later stages, the signs of the disease are similar to those of other conditions, so those conditions must be ruled out before a diagnosis can be made.

Your doctor may suspect bronchiectasis if you have a daily cough that produces large amounts of mucus.

Your doctor will determine if you have bronchiectasis by conducting a series of tests to:

• Identify any underlying causes that need to be treated
• Rule out other causes of your symptoms
• Determine the amount of damage to your lungs

The most commonly used tests to diagnose bronchiectasis are:

• Chest x ray. A chest x ray takes a picture of your heart and lungs. It can show infection and scarring of your airway walls.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan. This test provides a computer generated image of your airways and other tissue in your lungs. It has more detail than a regular chest x ray. A CT scan is the defining test for bronchiectasis. It can show how much damage has been done to the airways and where the damage is.

Other tests your doctor may conduct include:

• Blood tests. These tests can show if you have a disease or condition that can lead to bronchiectasis. They can also show if you have an infection or low levels of certain infection-fighting blood cells.
• Sputum culture. Sputum contains mucus and often pus, blood, or bacteria. Laboratory tests of a sample of your sputum can show if you have bacteria, fungi, or tuberculosis.
• Lung function tests. These tests measure how well your lungs move air in and out. These tests show how much lung damage you have.
• Sweat test or other tests for cystic fibrosis. This is a patch test on your arm that measures the amount of salt (sodium chloride) in your sweat.

If your condition does not respond to treatment, your doctor may request a fiberoptic bronchoscopy. In this procedure, your doctor inserts a long narrow, flexible tube with a light on the end through your nose or mouth into your airways. This tube is called a bronchoscope. It provides a video image of the airways and allows your doctor to collect samples of mucus. This test can show if something is blocking your lungs. You most likely would have this procedure as an outpatient in a hospital, under local anesthesia.