Survey of the state of bronchography in Japan

Bronchography is not routinely done. We analyzed the state of bronchography with questionnaires returned from 57 hospitals. Bronchography is now done at 30 hospitals. The number done in 1992 ranged from 1 to 27 (median 3). Peripheral lung cancer and bronchiectasis were the two most frequent diseases for which bronchography was done. In other hospitals, bronchography was once done, but had been stopped. Two reasons for discontinuation of bronchography are: recent progress in radiographic diagnostic techniques such as high resolution CT, and discomfort of the patient. Now that propyliodone is no longer available, some hospitals may use iopydol-iopydone or iopamidol instead. It is necessary to elucidate the true need for bronchography and for an appropriate contrast medium to take the place of propyliodone.