Transbronchial lung biopsy via the fiberoptic bronchoscope.

Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBB) was performed during fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 33 patients. Of the 33 patients biopsied, 22 had diffuse lung disease and 11 had localized lung disease without endobronchial lesions. The TBB technique yielded diagnosis in 18 cases of diffuse lung disease and failed to diagnose 4 cases. To establish the validity of the technique, 15 open biopsies were performed in the 22 cases of diffuse diseases, and the TBB technique had a good correlation in 11 (73 per cent). In 8 of 11 cases (73 per cent) of localized lung disease, the TBB was diagnostic. Thoracotomy was performed in 8 of the 11 cases; the open biopsies and TBB had a good correlation in 5 (62 per cent). TBB correlated with the open biopsy in 16 of 23 cases (70 per cent). In the 10 cases without further histologic corroboration, the TBBs were consistent with the clinical presentations. Thus in 26 of 33 cases (79 per cent) a clinically consistent or histologically proved diagnosis was made by TBB. No significant complicat...