Asthma as a mask of other respiratory diseases

: Everyday clinical practice reveals both cases of asthma with non-typical symptoms as well as pseudo-asthmatic syndromes with symptoms typical for asthma. Bronchofiberoscopy is a diagnostic method which may help to overcome many diagnostic problems. Although it is a safe procedure, an increased risk of severe bronchoconstriction exists in patients with asthma. The fear of this complication may cause late diagnosis of some asthma-mimicking diseases and may delay the proper treatment. In the present paper we describe two cases showing the possibility of making diagnostic mistakes, and especially illustrating the role ofbronchoscopy in differential diagnosis of bronchial asthma. The authors remind specific indications for this examination in patients with asthma or those presenting asthma-like symptoms. Safety precautions have been also recollected. If safety rules are met, severe bronchoconstriction in patients with bronchial hyperreactivity can be avoided.