Bronchial Brushing and Transbronchial Forceps Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Lesions

¹ Department of Radiology, The University of Chicago

A technique of transbronchial brush and forceps biopsy of pulmonary and bronchial lesions has been described.

We have used this method on 192 patients, ranging in age from eight months to 84 years, without significant complications.

Biopsy by this technique is indicated when routine methods fail to establish the diagnosis of a pulmonary lesion.

It is not essential for the patient to fully cooperate with the examiner when biopsies are being taken. Successful bronchial catheterization and biopsy have been performed even on unanesthetized infants and children.

A diagnosis was established by this technique in the majority (64 per cent) of the patients with primary pulmonary tumors. The diagnostic accuracy was lower in the presence of metastatic carcinoma and pulmonary lymphoma.

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More vigorous use of the biopsy forceps is expected to improve the diagnostic yield of this technique, especially in those patients with diffuse pulmonary diseases.