A condition characterized by chronic paranasal sinusitis and simultaneous chronic pulmonary infection was recognized and reported as long ago as the early 1900's. This condition was termed "sinobronchial syndrome" (SBS) in 1966. Many types of SBS are reported including Kartagener's syndrome/primary ciliary dyskinesia, Young's syndrome, bare-lymphocyte syndrome, cystic fibrosis and various types of immunoglobulin deficiency. SBS is also found in Japan. Among them, the most important is diffuse panbronchiolitis. The pathogenesis of SBS might involve inherited predisposition, probably accompanied by some deficiencies in the host defense of the respiratory system.