[Endobronchial biopsy in the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis]

Bronchofiberscopy (BFS) with endobronchial biopsy (EBB) was performed in 66 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS). Transbronchial biopsy (TBB) was made in 49 patients from this group to compare the diagnostic value of EBB and TBB. The normal endoscopic picture was observed in 19.6% of patients. Bronchial mucosal hypervascularization and thickening were found in 25.7% of cases; the signs of enlarged bronchopulmonary lymph nodes were detected in 13.6%; catarrhal endobronchitis in 10.6%, and tuberosity changes in 4.5%. Epithelioid granulomas in the bronchial mucosa were identified in 37.8% of cases (30.75 and 39.6% in the intact and abnormal mucosa, respectively). The diagnostic value of TBB was 65.3%. EBB could reveal epithelioid-cell granulomas in 4 of the 17 patients with negative TBB. The findings suggest that BFS with EBB should be included as a necessary diagnostic method for the examination of patients with PS.