Bronchography

Abstract

This is a review of bronchography as practised in St. Luke's Hospital, Malta, over the years 1969 and 1970. A case study involving 40 patients who were investigated by bronchography, 26 cases had a definite bronchial or lung lesion, 14 cases had a normal bronchogram. The advantage of bronchography in the investigation of a lung or bronchial lesion it that demonstration of the lesion is clear cut with good definition. The amount of exposure to X-Rays is minimal and is equivalent to 3 exposures for a chest X-Ray which are of minimal duration. This is in contrast to tomography where the different cuts at different levels are taken with each exposure lasting between 1 and 3 seconds. The disadvantage, relative to tomography, is that the procedure is more uncomfortable for the patient. Neither bronchography nor tomography will supersede each other as a means of investigating a lung lesion. Bronchography and tomography are complementary.