Poor breath sounds with good voice sounds. A sign of bronchial stenosis.

The auscultatory finding of disparity in breath and voice sounds, the former being absent or faint whereas the latter are easily heard when compared to the corresponding site over the opposite lung, predicts stenosis of a main, intermediate, or lobar bronchus. Stenosis limits airflow and consequently reduces turbulence, causing diminution or absence of breath sounds over the poorly ventilated region; however, flow-independent voice sounds are not significantly impaired. This sign was present in ten patients, in each of whom bronchial stenosis was confirmed by bronchoscopy.