Transbronchial biopsy in the thrombocytopenic patient.
Twenty-five flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic procedures with transbronchial lung biopsies were performed in 24 severely thrombocytopenic immunocompromised patients (mean platelet count of 30,000/cu mm, with a range of 7,000/cu mm to 60,000/cu mm) during the diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary infiltrates. Three patients had self-limited endobronchial bleeding. A single death was attributable to massive hemorrhage after transbronchial biopsy and brushing. Specific etiologic diagnoses were established by bronchoscopy in nine cases.
D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*