Hemoptysis in American English, spelled
haemoptysis in British English, is the act of
coughing up blood or blood-stained
mucus from the
bronchi,
larynx,
trachea, or
lungs. This can occur with
lung cancer, infections such as
tuberculosis,
bronchitis, or
pneumonia, and certain cardiovascular conditions. Hemoptysis is considered massive if there is more than of blood lost in 24 hours. In such cases, the primary danger comes from choking, rather than blood loss.