Bronchogenic

Bronchogenic is an anatomical and medical term meaning arising from or relating to the bronchi, the major air passages that connect the trachea to the lungs. The term is most commonly encountered in two contexts: bronchogenic carcinoma and bronchogenic cysts.

Bronchogenic carcinoma refers to primary cancers that originate in the bronchial epithelium or adjacent parts of the tracheobronchial tree. It is the most common type of lung cancer. The major histologic categories are non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma) and small cell lung carcinoma. Risk factors include tobacco smoking, occupational exposures (such as asbestos and radon), and prior lung disease. Symptoms often include cough, chest pain, dyspnea, weight loss, and sometimes hemoptysis. Diagnosis typically involves imaging (chest radiography and CT), followed by tissue biopsy for histologic confirmation and staging. Treatment depends on stage and histology and may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

Bronchogenic cysts are congenital lesions resulting from abnormal budding of the foregut during embryonic development and are typically located in the mediastinum or within the lung. They may be asymptomatic or present with cough, infection, chest pain, or airway compression. Imaging often aids in diagnosis, and definitive treatment is usually complete surgical excision to prevent infection or other complications.

Etymology-wise, bronchogenic combines bronchus with the suffix -genic, meaning produced by or arising from the bronchi.