Practical Guidance for Diagnosing & Managing Bronchiectasis and NTM Lung Disease

As bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease continue to be recognized with increasing frequency, timely diagnosis and individualized management remain essential to improving patient outcomes.

The Temple Lung Center is proud to share two recent milestones that reflect our commitment to advancing care for patients with these complex conditions:

• Bronchiectasis Care Center Network Designation: Temple Lung Center has been recognized as a Bronchiectasis Care Center Network site, joining a select group of institutions committed to delivering comprehensive, multidisciplinary care while advancing research and education in bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease.
• New Clinical Education from Daniel Salerno, MD: In recognition of World NTM Awareness Day, Dr. Daniel Salerno, Director of the Bronchiectasis Program, partnered with VuMedi to present a practical educational program on Bronchiectasis and Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) Lung Disease: Key Diagnostic Clues and Treatment Decisions.

The presentation highlights evidence-based strategies for recognizing and managing MAC lung disease, including:

• Identifying patients who warrant evaluation for MAC, particularly those with bronchiectasis, chronic cough, constitutional symptoms, and frequent exacerbations.
• Recognizing characteristic CT findings—including right middle lobe and lingular bronchiectasis with tree-in-bud nodularity—and distinguishing these patterns from other causes of bronchiectasis.
• Applying current diagnostic criteria that integrate clinical presentation, radiographic findings, and microbiologic confirmation.
• Recognizing markers of disease progression, including persistent culture positivity, cavitary disease, declining BMI, worsening imaging, and increasing symptom burden.
• Individualizing treatment decisions through shared decision-making by balancing disease severity, progression risk, treatment toxicity, and patient goals.
• Reviewing current multidrug treatment strategies, recommended duration of therapy, safety monitoring, and long-term follow-up considerations.

Together, these milestones underscore Temple Lung Center's role as a national leader in bronchiectasis and NTM care, combining specialized clinical expertise with a commitment to physician education, research, and multidisciplinary patient management.

Explore Temple's Bronchiectasis Program to learn more about our nationally recognized clinical services, multidisciplinary care model, and ongoing research initiatives.

Watch Dr. Salerno's VuMedi presentation for practical insights you can apply in the diagnosis and management of patients with bronchiectasis and MAC lung disease.

We look forward to partnering with pulmonologists nationwide to improve recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease.

A Seamless Referral Experience

We look forward to partnering with pulmonologists nationwide to improve recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of bronchiectasis and NTM lung disease.

Our team:

• Reviews each patient comprehensively to determine trial eligibility or alternative treatment options
• Coordinates all aspects of care and intervention
• Maintains clear and consistent communication with referring providers

To refer a patient to Temple’s Bronchiectasis program, click here.