Bronchophony

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Bronchophony
Illustration of the lungs
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Pulmonology
Symptoms	Increased vocal resonance
Complications	N/A
Onset	N/A
Duration	N/A
Types	N/A
Causes	Lung consolidation
Risks	N/A
Diagnosis	N/A
Differential diagnosis	Egophony, Whispered pectoriloquy
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Treat underlying cause
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency
Deaths	N/A

Bronchophony

Diagram of the lungs showing areas where bronchophony may be assessed.

Bronchophony is a clinical sign used in the assessment of the respiratory system. It refers to the increased clarity and resonance of the voice sounds heard through a stethoscope over the lung fields. This phenomenon is typically assessed during a physical examination when a patient is asked to repeat a phrase, such as "ninety-nine," while the examiner listens with a stethoscope.

Mechanism

Bronchophony occurs when there is increased transmission of sound through the lung tissue. Normally, the lung tissue acts as a filter, dampening the sound of the voice as it travels from the larynx through the airways and lung parenchyma. However, when the lung tissue becomes consolidated, as in the case of pneumonia, the sound waves are transmitted more efficiently, resulting in clearer and louder voice sounds.

Clinical Significance

The presence of bronchophony is an important clinical finding that can indicate underlying lung pathology. It is often associated with conditions that cause lung consolidation, such as:

• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary edema
• Lung cancer

In these conditions, the alveoli are filled with fluid, pus, or other material, which enhances the transmission of sound.

Examination Technique

To assess for bronchophony, the examiner should: 1. Ask the patient to sit upright and breathe normally. 2. Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope on the patient's chest, starting at the upper lung fields. 3. Instruct the patient to repeat a phrase, such as "ninety-nine," while listening to the transmitted voice sounds. 4. Compare the sounds heard over different areas of the lung fields. Increased clarity and loudness of the voice sounds over a particular area may indicate the presence of bronchophony.

Differential Diagnosis

While bronchophony is a useful sign, it should be interpreted in the context of other clinical findings and diagnostic tests. Other conditions that may cause similar findings include:

• Pleural effusion
• Atelectasis
• Fibrosis

See also

• Egophony
• Whispered pectoriloquy
• Lung auscultation