Transbronchial lung biopsy in diffuse lung disease--a study of 28 cases

Twenty-eight patients with diffuse lung disease underwent transbronchial lung biopsy during fibreoptic bronchoscopy. In 26 patients (93%) adequate tissue was obtained. Of these 26 biopsies specific diagnosis was possible in 20 (76%); a further 2 had non-specific inflammatory changes and a third, who was clinically normal, had normal lung. The inclusion of these cases raises the yield to 88%. The conditions most frequently seen were interstitial fibrosis (35%) and granulomatous diseases (31%). Three patients (11%) had procedure related pneumothorax; only one required a chest tube. This is a high yield, safe procedure and should be used more widely in India.