T Lymphocytosis in a Bronchoalveolar Lavage of a Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma: Case Report

Abstract

We report the results of a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in a patient suspected of interstitial lung disease and/or malignancy. The recovered cells from the lavage were characteristic of a high intensity alveolitis as seen in sarcoidosis. However, some adenocarcinoma cells were also found. The significance of these findings could be (a) that some immune response against this pulmonary malignancy may exist, and (b) that BAL can be used as a valuable tool to characterize the alveolitis of sarcoidosis, but carefully cytologic examination of BAL cells should be performed to exclude other causes of interstitial lung disease with an associated lymphocytic alveolitis