ABSTRACT
To determine the profile of hemoptysis their main etiologies, we reviewed 291 cases hospitalized in 5 years [from 1980 to 1984] in a service of pneumology. Patients with hemoptysis represente 8,8% of all hospitalized patients. They have a mean age of 46 years and 47% of them have less than 50 years; 69,4% are men. The hemoptysis is a telltale sign of a thoracic pathology in 35,4%. It is trivial in 71,1% medium in 26,8%, important in 2,1%. In all the cases the chest radiograph is abnormal, the abnormalities evokating the etiologies in 70,8%. The prevailing etiologies are lung cancer [34,4%] and both active and sequelary tuberculosis [18,9%]. Among other causes bronchectasies hold an important place [15,1%] as well as broken hydatic cysts [9,3%]. The other causes are as follows: bacterial pneumopathies with or without abcess [7,2%], pulmonary aspergillosis [6,9%], chronic bronchitis with or without emphysema [3,5%]. Exceptional causes gather only 4 cases. In 3,1% no cause for the hemoptysis is demonstrated. This study emphasizes the leading role of lung cancer as an etiology of hemoptysis, even in country with a great tuberculosis prevalence. Nevertheless this outward reality is also due in part to the fact that most of patients with tuberculosis are hospitalized in specific yards