title: [The clinical significance of bronchoalveolar lavage].
abstract: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has evolved from a powerful investigative tool to an important clinical method. It has been found to be diagnostic in several infectious and noninfectious diseases involving the lower respiratory tract, and it provides valuable information for the differential diagnosis, management and prognosis of interstitial lung disorders. Nevertheless there is a pressing need for standardization of the technical aspects of BAL.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsspital Zürich.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speich
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Russi
mesh_terms: D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects
vernacular_title: Die klinische Bedeutung der bronchoalveolären Lavage.