The role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in children remains to be defined, and to date there has been no standardization of acquisition and processing of the BAL fluid. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a standardized protocol for obtaining, processing, and analyzing BAL fluid and to establish reference values for healthy children. Eighteen children 3 mo to 10 yr of age were lavaged with three 1-ml/kg aliquots of normal saline, using a flexible bronchoscope into the right middle lobe. The first aliquot was processed separately; the second and the third were pooled. There was a higher percentage of neutrophils and epithelial cells in the first aliquot. The number of total cells per milliliter (median, Q1 to Q3) in the first aliquot was 60 (45 to 90) x 10(3)/ml; in the pooled sample it was 155 (75 to 257) x 10(3)/ml. Percentages (median, Q1 to Q3) of different cell types in the pooled sample were: macrophages, 91% (84 to 94); lymphocytes, 7.5% (4.7 to 12.8); neutrophils, 1.7% (0.6 to 3.5); eosinophils, 0.15% (0.0 to 0.3). The ratio of helper/cytotoxic T-cells was 0.58 (0.4 to 1). The results of this study demonstrate that BAL, using a standardized protocol adjusting instilled fluid volume by weight, appears to be appropriate in children and that cellular and protein values from healthy children are, apart from differences in lymphocyte subsets, similar to those found in healthy adults.

We present two cases of solitary fibrous tumour (SFT) showing biphasic morphology with a spectrum of malignant epithelioid components. Slides prepared from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue from both cases were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and by immunohistochemistry. Interphase fluorescent in situ hybridisation studies were performed in both cases using paraffin-embedded tissue to look for the t(X;18) translocation, thereby to exclude synovial sarcoma. Both cases showed biphasic morphology with some areas having typical benign spindled SFT morphology (including CD34 expression) and other areas having a malignant epithelioid appearance. In one of the cases, the epithelioid area, which was well circumscribed and showed packeting of cell groups, demonstrated expression of cytokeratin and epithelial cadherin but not of CD34. In the second case, the immunophenotype of the epithelioid component was similar to that of the benign SFT component. These findings suggest that epithelioid change in SFT shows a range of differentiation at one end, similar to that of a standard SFT, and at the other end, possibly acquiring epithelial characteristics.

We report 50 immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates who underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy, including bronchoalveolar lavage, on 56 occasions. The underlying diseases were mostly lymphoma, leukemia, other malignancies and renal failure. The commonest immunodeficiency factors were chemotherapy, steroids and neutropenia. A positive diagnosis could be made from analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavage on 59% (33/56) occasions. This was a comparable yield to transbronchial lung biopsy 57% (16/27), and superior to proximal airways wash 24% (13/55), or bronchial brushings 29% (10/34). Open lung biopsy added additional diagnostic information in three of the four cases in which it was performed. The most common final diagnoses were bacterial, viral or Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and recurrent malignancy. We conclude that bronchoalveolar lavage is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic yield in the immunocompromised host with suspected opportunistic pneumonia.

An 83-year-old obese woman with a 60-pack-year smoking history was referred for evaluation of an abnormal chest radiograph [chest x-ray (CXR)]. Her past medical history was significant for recurrent deep venous thrombosis without any predisposing factors. CXR showed a large mass in the right mid lung and another nodule at the right apex, highly suspicious for a neoplastic process. These were not present on a CXR from 2 years earlier. An fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan revealed that all lesions were strongly FDG-avid. Six CT-guided core-needle lung biopsy specimens were obtained from the lung mass and all contained dense, lamellar, or "ropy" keloid-like collagen bundles arranged in a haphazard pattern. The biopsy specimens lacked significant necrosis and granulomas. Congo red stain with polarization was also negative for amyloid. The diagnosis of pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma (PHG) was made. A complete hypercoagulable workup was performed but no underlying abnormalities were found, including a negative lupus anticoagulant and malignancy workup. The patient was maintained on warfarin and followed with serial CT scans for 1 year, with spontaneous regression in the lung mass. The case is unique as it is the first case that reports an association of PHG with recurrent deep venous thrombosis in the absence of autoimmune or procoagulant factors and emphasizes the need for life-long anticoagulation in such scenarios. Also, we report the FDG-avid PET scan findings here that are novel for this disease in adults and add PHG to the list of diseases causing false-positive PET scans when malignancy is suspected.

Two patients were suspected of having extrinsic allergic alveolitis due to exposure to an agent in their home environment. On inspection of their houses, fungal decay was evident in the floorboards, and fungal spores were found deposited on many surfaces. The decay fungus was later identified as Leucogyrophana pinastri. Using an extract of the fruiting bodies and mycelium of this fungus, precipitating antibodies were identified in the sera of both patients. Based on the known exposure by the two patients to these small spores, the absence of a likely alternative allergen, the similarity between these two cases, and the positive precipitin test results, L. pinastri was considered to be the most likely cause of extrinsic allergic alveolitis in our cases.