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Vol. 41. Issue 8.
Pages 468-470 (August 2005)
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Vol. 41. Issue 8.
Pages 468-470 (August 2005)
Case Report
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Chronic Idiopathic Lithoptysis
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E. García Pachóna,
Corresponding author
egpachon@hotmail.com

Correspondence: Dr. E. García Pachón. Sección de Neumología. Hospital General Universitario. Camí de l'Almazara, 11. 03203 Elche. Alicante. España
, F. Grasesb, I. Padilla Navasa, J.A. Gallegoc, B. Valerod, V. Romeroa
a Sección de Neumología, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Alicante, Spain
b Laboratorio de Investigación en Litiasis Renal, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares, Spain
c Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Alicante, Spain
d Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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Chronic Idiopathic Lithoptysis

Broncholiths, which usually arise from calcified peribronchial lymph nodes, can be found by radiography or bronchoscopy. We describe the case of a 19-year-old man who had experienced lithoptysis of bronchial hydroxyapatite calculi for over 6 months and who reported having sandy expectoration since childhood. Exhaustive clinical, radiographic, and endoscopic diagnostic studies detected no calcified lesions in the thorax that could explain the origin of the broncholiths. Therefore, we propose that broncholiths may form by mechanisms similar to those involved in calculi formation in other locations.

Key Words:
Broncholithiasis
Broncholiths
Expectoration
Hydroxyapatite
Lithoptysis

La litoptisis (expectoración de piedras) es un hallazgo clínico muy infrecuente. Los broncolitos, secundarios en general a ganglios linfáticos peribronquiales calcificados, se pueden hallar en las exploraciones radiológicas o en la broncoscopia. Describimos el caso de un varón de 19 años con litoptisis, durante más de 6 meses, de cálculos bronquiales de hidroxiapatita que refería expectoración de arenilla desde la infancia. A pesar de un extenso estudio diagnóstico clínico, radiológico y endoscópico, no se detectaron lesiones calcificadas en el tórax que pudieran explicar el origen de los broncolitos, por lo que se propone un mecanismo de formación similar al de los cálculos de otras localizaciones.

Palabras clave:
Broncolitiasis
Broncolito
Expectoración
Hidroxiapatita
Litoptisis
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Copyright © 2005. Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR)
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