Bronchiectasis

(brong-ke-ek' -tas-is). A term denoting the dilatation or relaxation of the walls of the bronchi, arising from inflammation and other causes. It is very rare as a primary condition, but is frequently a ociated with some chronic pulmonary disease. It occurs most frequently in pulmonary tuberculosis at the apex of the lung, but is also frequently seen in the bronchi at the base of the lung. It may involve a tube uniformly for some distance, producing the cylindrical form; or it may occur irregularly in sacs of pockets, the sacculated form. If the whole lung be involved in the change we have produced the so-called turtle lung. The characteristic symptom of bronchiectasis is paroxysmal coughing, with the expectoration of large quantities of mucopurulent, often fetid, matter. Cavernous breathing will be heard over the dilated tubes.