Post-mortem Bronchography in the Study of Bronchitis and Emphysema

Many characteristic bronchographic features have been recorded in patients with chronic bronchitis but current interest is focused on the changes at the periphery of the bronchial tree (Freimanis and Molnar, 1960; Hirschfeld, 1961 ; Hirschfeld, Brantigan, Kress, and Goco, 1962). There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the small rather than the large airways are believed to be of major importance in 'obstructive' pulmonary disease. Secondly, some abnormal peripheral patterns described in chronic bronchitis may give a lead to the diagnosis of emphysema, including even the specific anatomical type.