[Diagnostic usefulness of the bronchoscopy for pulmonary tuberculosis]

We have experienced 83 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in last 22 months. A rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was established in 14 (16.9%) out of 83 patients by bronchoscopic examinations. Out of 30 bronchoscopic examinations, exacerbation of the chest X-ray findings was seen in 4 patients, however there was no significant unfavourable effects on the results of treatment. A survey on the use of bronchoscopy for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis was undertaken through a questionnaire distributed to about 90 hospitals in Japan. Only a few exacerbation was experienced by TBLB, BAL, etc., in some hospitals. Above results suggests that bronchoscopy is a useful procedure for the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.