The authors studied 314 patients with bronchiectasis. An elevated percentage of sequelae of tuberculosis (42.7%) was found, and other causes of bronchiectasis represented 57.3%. Mean age was similar in both groups, around 50 years old, with predominance of females (65.0%). As to symptoms and signs, hemoptysis was sharply predominant in the tuberculosis group (37.3% x 22.8%; p < 0.05). Association between asthma and infections during childhood was similar in both groups, but sinusitis was more frequent in the non-tuberculosis group (45.0% x 23.9%; p < 0.05). The most frequent site for bronchiectasis secondary tuberculosis was the right upper lobe; in the other group, the most frequent sites were lower left lobe and lingula. The most frequent morphologic type in greater groups was cylindrical (more than 50% of patients). Lung function tests were abnormal, with reduction in both FEV 1 and FVC in the tuberculosis group. Forty-four percent of the patients in the first group and 37.2% in the second one were smokers. The authors make comments about the high number of patients with tuberculosis scars that have secondary bronchiectasis and the greater impairment of lung function in this group of patients.