Detection of non‐haematolymphoid malignancies in bronchoalveolar lavages–A cancer centre’s 10 year experience

Abstract

Since being introduced in 1966, fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) has been a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of various pulmonary diseases and has allowed for the performance of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) directed to specific areas of the lung with radiologic abnormalities. 1 BAL permits the evaluation of the cellular and potentially pathogenic components in the alveolar spaces and epithelial lining. The fluid recovered from BAL can undergo multiple diagnostic tests, such as microbacterial cultures, cell count, cytological