Cell analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage

Ninety bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of Thai cancerous cases (28), tuberculous cases (24); non-tuberculous cases (17) and miscellaneous diseases cases (13) was performed for total and differential BAL cell count. This technique could be initially used as a guideline for suggestive diagnosis in some suspicious cases particularly cancer from tuberculous BAL. The combination in the ratio of macrophages to dusty and foamy macrophages below 1.25 and total BAL cell count lower than 0.85 x 10(3)/mm3 could suggest a diagnostic indication of cancerous BAL rather than tuberculous BAL or other diseases. Tuberculous BAL revealed a high percentage of macrophages, low level of dusty and foamy macrophages. Non-tuberculous BAL could be distinguished from other diseases by the higher percentage of neutrophil over 55% and lower percentage in every type of macrophages, whereas, a high level in every type of macrophages was found in miscellaneous BAL.