Large Bronchial Casts

Abstract
Unusually large bronchial casts developed in four patients. In two, the casts were associated with pneumonia. In one, a large RBC cast resulted from a complication of fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Bronchial casts developed in an additional patient as a manifestation of plastic bronchitis. Although unusual, bronchial cast formation may complicate a number of hypersecretory pulmonary diseases. Therapy ordinarily includes specific measures to treat the underlying disease state and maneuvers designed to remove or facilitate the expectoration of bronchial casts. (Arch Intern Med 139:522-525, 1979)