Question

Brock's syndrome is

• A. Bronchiectasis sicca
• B. Middle lobe bronchiectasis
• C. Kartagener's syndrome
• D. Sarcoidosis

Hint:

Named the middle lobe syndrome - hilar TB nodes compress the right middle lobe bronchus.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Brock's syndrome, also called middle lobe syndrome, is right middle lobe bronchiectasis or recurrent atelectasis occurring as a late sequel of primary tuberculosis.

Step 2: It is believed to result from external pressure of enlarged hilar lymph nodes (from primary TB in childhood) on the right middle lobe bronchus. The narrow, long middle lobe bronchus is especially vulnerable to such compression.

Step 3: Repeated episodes of atelectasis and fibrosis lead to bronchiectasis of the middle lobe. The term is also used for recurrent middle lobe atelectasis even without overt endobronchial obstruction.

Step 4: Why the others are wrong - bronchiectasis sicca is dry bronchiectasis seen in upper lobes, Kartagener's syndrome is situs inversus with bronchiectasis and sinusitis, and sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease. Hence Brock's syndrome equals middle lobe bronchiectasis.