[Correlation between roentgenogram and CT scans with the changes of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in...

Considering protean and variability of chest findings of sarcoidosis, the correlation between finding on roentgenogram and CT scans with changes of total, differential cell count and subsets of lymphocytes of BALF in 25 cases with sarcoidosis was studied. The results showed that CT could detect more groups of enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum and more minimal lesions in lung parenchyma in those patients who showed stage 0 and I on chest roentgenogram. The parenchymal changes were distributed mainly among the bronchovascular sheath. Good correlation was found between findings on CT scan and total cell count in BALF. Fibrotic changes on CT scan were usually associated with an increase in neutrophils of BALF. It indicated that CT could more precisely assess the lesions in the mediastinum and lung parenchyma and be served as an important supplementary diagnostic measure to roentgenogram for patients with sarcoidosis.