[Transbronchial biopsy of the lung : value for diagnosis of sarcoïdosis. A study in 53 patients (author's transl)]

Data yielded by bronchial and transbronchial biopsy specimens removed during fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 53 patients with sarcoïdosis (24 stage I, 27 stage II, and 2 stage III) was analyzed. Bronchial biopsies (3 to 5 specimens) were positive in 49% of patients (41,6% stage I, 55,5% stage II, 1/2 stage III). Transbronchial biopsies removing bronchiolar and alveolar specimens yielded 88,6% positive results (91.6% stage I, 85,1% stage II, 2/2 stage III). Lymphocyte counts bronchioalveolar washings exceeded normal values by 15% in all 42 patients studied. We conclude : 1) that transbronchial lung biopsies yield significantly more information than proximal bronchial biopsies ; 2) that results of bronchioloalveolar washings reflect granulomatous immunologic changes in the lung and do not allow unequivocal diagnosis.