A Study of Clinical Profile of Hemoptysis and Its Correlation with Radiological, Microbiological and Pathological Findings

Background: Hemoptysis is one of the most important and alarming respiratory symptoms encountered in pulmonary medicine. It may result from a wide variety of pulmonary and systemic disorders ranging from infections to malignancy. Early identification of the underlying etiology through clinical, radiological, microbiological, and pathological correlation is essential for appropriate management and prevention of complications. The aim is to study the clinical profile of hemoptysis and to correlate the clinical findings with radiological, microbiological, and pathological findings among patients presenting with hemoptysis. Material and Methods: The present prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of one year. A total of 100 adult patients presenting with hemoptysis were included in the study. Detailed clinical history, physical examination, laboratory investigations, sputum examination, radiological investigations including chest X-ray and CECT thorax, and pathological investigations were performed whenever indicated. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods and expressed in frequencies and percentages. Results: The majority of patients belonged to the age group of 30–49 years (39%), followed by 50–69 years (31%). Male predominance was observed with 73% males and 27% females. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common etiology accounting for 68% of cases, followed by bronchiectasis (10%) and malignancy (7%). Mild hemoptysis was observed in 83% of patients, while severe hemoptysis occurred in 2% of cases. Cough was the most common associated symptom and was present in 98% of patients. Radiological abnormalities were observed in the majority of cases, predominantly involving the upper lung zones. Microbiological evaluation revealed sputum positivity for acid-fast bacilli in a substantial proportion of patients and bacterial isolates such as Klebsiella and Pseudomonas species in others. Conclusion: Pulmonary tuberculosis remains the leading cause of hemoptysis in developing countries. Clinical evaluation along with radiological, microbiological, and pathological correlation plays a vital role in identifying the underlying etiology and guiding appropriate management. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are essential to reduce morbidity and prevent life-threatening complications associated with hemoptysis.

Keywords: Hemoptysis; Pulmonary tuberculosis; Radiological correlation; Microbiological findings; Bronchiectasis.