Journal of Clinical Case Reports

Gastrobronchial Fistula Presenting with Unexplained Chronic Cough

Abstract

Je-Ming Hu, Sheng-Der Hsu, Chun-Ting Chen and Wei-Yun Tseng

A gastrobronchial fistula (GBF) is a rare and life-threatening disease. The prognosis in patients with GBF is related to early diagnosis and urgent surgical intervention. We report a rare case of fistulous communication between the stomach and the residual pleural space, presenting with a 1-month history of coughing. The patient was initially misdiagnosed as having bronchitis. When patients present with a persistent long-term dry cough, we suggest that GBF should be included when making a differential diagnosis. We provide a review of the literature by discussing possible causes such as erosion into a bronchus after a perigastric abscess secondary to gastric ulcer perforation.