[Pulmonary infarction diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy]

A 43-year-old man complained of chest pain, fever, and hemosputum in February 1997. Chest X-ray films revealed small opacity in the right lower lung field. The patient received therapy for pneumonia and his condition gradually improved. However, on March 21 he was admitted to our hospital with worsened chest pain and radiographic findings. A transbronchial lung biopsy revealed thrombus and necrosis, thus yielding a diagnosis of pulmonary infarction. The patient did not exhibit any underlying disease or coagulation abnormalities. Treatment with ticlopidine resulted in a favorable course. This was a rare case of pulmonary infarction in which TBLB findings led to the diagnosis.