Bronchial brushing in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease in patients at risk for opportunistic infection.

Abstract

The results of the application of the bronchial brushing technique to 57 cases of pulmonary disease in patients at risk for opportunistic infection are described. Eight of 10 studies of patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis yielded adequate material for definitive diagnosis. Bacterial cultures after nasotracheal catheterization were only of value when correlated with the presence of bacteria and inflammatory cells in tissue sections. Despite problems with pharyngeal contamination, specimens yielding viruses of the herpes group, Nocardia and Aspergillus, were obtained only from patients with clinical evidence of lower respiratory infection with these agents. Histologic and cytologic examination of tissues obtained by brushing and transbronchial biopsy permitted the diagnosis of 6 of 15 patients with discrete neoplastic lesions but failed to establish the diagnosis in patients with diffuse “interstitial” malignant disease. Ease of performance and safety make bronchial brushing a useful technique in...