Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Haemoptysis: a Multicenter Study

Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study on Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Haemoptysis

Haemoptysis is the coughing up of blood originating from the respiratory tract. It is a common and worrying clinical symptom which can be due to different aetiologies including lung cancer, tuberculosis, COPD, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, acute bronchitis or unknown origin (cryptogenic haemoptysis). Epidemiology and optimal diagnostic approach are largely unclear. Aims of this study are to define current epidemiology and to provide the best diagnostic approach by providing a diagnostic algorithm.

Inclusion Criteria:

• haemoptysis requiring a diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of known bleeding lesions in the upper or lower airways