Outcome of bronchoscopic biopsies in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Our study was done to evaluate our bronchoscopic techniques, sizes and diagnostic yield.

This was a retrospective study comprising all cases of bronchial biopsies done in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital from 2007 to 2011. All patients who had flexible bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia during the period under review where enrolled in the study.

There were a total of 16 patients: Nine males and seven females, with a mean age of 46.9 years. The main indications were cough (87.5%), weight loss (62.5%), X-ray findings of a chest lesion (87.5%), chest pain (62.5%), difficulty with breathing (31.3%) and massive haemoptysis (25%). Histology results showed inadequate samples in six and Bronchogenic carcinoma in four patients. The histology was pivotal in eight patients.

Bronchoscopic biopsies are fraught with problems and other clinical investigative tools would certainly be important in improving the results.