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.
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