Bronchiectasis: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99).

  • Defective ENaC protein – mutation in the ENaC gene resulting in a defective epithelial sodium channel; hyperactive sodium channel occurs, leading to disruption of salt-water homeostasis (homeostasis = balance) at the respiratory mucosa (bronchial mucosa)
  • Kartagener syndrome – congenital disorder; triad of situs inversus viscerum (mirror-image arrangement of organs), bronchiectasis (synonyms: bronchiectasis; dilatation of bronchi), and aplasia (nonformation) of paranasal sinuses; disorders without situs inversus are called primary ciliary dyskinesia. Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, PCD): congenital disease of the respiratory tract in which the movement of the cilia, also called cilia, is disturbed; the disease is associated with recurrent (recurrent) infections of the respiratory tract.
  • Marfan syndrome – genetic disease that can be inherited both autosomal dominant or occur sporadically (as a new mutation); systemic connective tissue disease, which is notable mainly for tall stature, spider limbs and hyperextensibility of the joints; 75% of these patients have an aneurysm (pathological (pathological) bulge of the arterial wall).
  • Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) (most common cause of non-CF bronchiectasis (not caused by cystic fibrosis)) – the movement of the cilia (cilia) is disturbed, resulting in decreased clearance of secretions → increased susceptibility to infection
  • Tracheobronchomegaly – congenital dilation of the trachea and large bronchi.

Respiratory system (J00-J99)

  • Acute obstruction (narrowing) of the upper respiratory tract, e.g., due to benign (benign) tumors or enlarged lymph nodes
  • Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (mold infection) (ABPA).
  • Asthma brochiale
  • Bronchial abnormalities
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Diffuse panbronchiolitis – chronic progressive (progressive) inflammation of the bronchioles.
  • Lung abscess (encapsulated collection of pus in the lungs).
  • Pulmonary emphysema (lung hyperinflation)
  • Pulmonary fibrosis (connective tissue remodeling of the lung tissue with subsequent functional impairment).
  • Pulmonary edema (accumulation of water in the lung tissue).
  • Pneumothorax (lung collapse)

Blood, blood-forming organs – immune system (D50-D90).

Congenital immunodeficiencies

  • Agammaglobulinemia – X-linked immunodeficiency in which B lymphocytes cannot be fully formed due to a genetic defect; this causes increased susceptibility to infections in the ear, nose, and throat, as well as the lungs.
  • Hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES) – primary immunodeficiency clinically characterized by the triad of high serum IGE (> 2,000 IU/ml), recurrent staphylococcal skin abscesses and recurrent pneumonia (pneumonia) with the formation of pneumatoceles (abnormal accumulation of air in the tissue).
  • Variable immunodeficiency syndrome (“Common variable immunodeficiency” (CVID)) – congenital immunodeficiency in which the immunoglobulin synthesis, especially immunoglobulin G, is disproportionately low, resulting in increased susceptibility to infection, especially for bacterial infections of the airways and gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract).
  • Selective IgA deficiency – most common genetic immunodeficiency; leads primarily to chronic recurrent (recurrent) infections of the respiratory tract.

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).

  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency – liver cells make the enzyme incorrectly or in insufficient amounts; alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is associated with an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults
  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) (synonym: cystic fibrosis).

Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99).

Cardiovascular system (I00-I99).

  • Pulmonary embolism – partial (partial) or complete obstruction of a pulmonary artery, mainly due to pelvic-leg thrombosis (about 90% of cases).

Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

  • HIV
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Morbilli (measles)
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Pneumonia (pneumonia)
  • Tuberculosis (consumption)

Mouth, esophagus (esophagus), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

  • Rheumatoid arthritis – inflammatory multisystem disease, usually manifested in the form of synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane).
  • Scoliosis (S-shaped spine) – sideways bending of the spine, with simultaneous rotation of the vertebrae, which can no longer be fully straightened.
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) – systemic disease affecting the skin and connective tissue of the vessels, leading to vasculitides (vascular inflammation) of numerous organs such as the heart, kidneys or brain.

Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48).

  • Bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer)

Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).