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CT imaging is the standard procedure to confirm or rule out a bronchiectasis diagnosis when symptoms and clinical history suggest that it could be an underlying respiratory disease.^3,4

When diagnosing bronchiectasis, a CT scan has high accuracy as well as higher sensitivity and specificity compared to an X-ray.⁵ Terms such as “bronchial/airway dilation,” “signet ring,” or “tree-in-bud” in a radiology report may indicate a finding of bronchiectasis on a CT scan.^5-7

A bronchiectasis diagnosis can be confirmed with a CT scan and key clinical features:

Key clinical findings⁶

• Cough and sputum production most days of the week
• History of exacerbations

Chest CT^3,4

CT imaging findings of bronchial dilation confirm a diagnosis of bronchiectasis when clinically suspected.

3 key defining radiologic features of bronchiectasis^6,7

Bronchiectasis is characterized by structural lung damage that is visible on lung imaging.

If you suspect bronchiectasis in patients with clinical markers of the disease, a CT scan in the diagnostic evaluation can confirm or rule it out.^1,8

Bronchiectasis requires a multimodal treatment plan^11,12

The treatment of bronchiectasis involves targeting the key components of the vicious vortex^2,10,11

Chronic airway infection

Lung destruction

Chronic airway inflammation, primarily neutrophilic

Reducing chronic airway inflammation, primarily neutrophilic^2,10

• Anti-inflammatories
• While disease mechanisms of bronchiectasis and COPD both include inflammation, they are not primarily driven by the same cause^13,14

Reducing chronic airway inflammation, primarily neutrophilic^2,10:

• Anti-inflammatories
• While disease mechanisms of bronchiectasis and COPD both include inflammation, they are not primarily driven by the same cause^13,14

Addressing effects of lung damage

• Pulmonary rehabilitation²
• Surgery²

Addressing effects of lung damage

• Pulmonary rehabilitation²
• Surgery²

Enhancing mucociliary clearance

• Airway clearance techniques¹⁵
• Mucoactive therapies¹⁶

Enhancing mucociliary clearance

• Airway clearance techniques¹⁵
• Mucoactive therapies¹⁶

Addressing chronic airway infection

Collect sputum routinely for^2,6:

• Pathogen identification
• Antibiotic susceptibility

Addressing chronic airway infection

Collect sputum routinely for^2,6:

• Pathogen identification
• Antibiotic susceptibility

Impaired mucociliary clearance

A different treatment approach may be required to specifically manage the underlying bronchiectasis in patients with COPD or asthma.^2,4,5,11

CT=computed tomography.