title: Open lung biopsy in immunocompromised children with pulmonary infiltrates.
abstract: We assessed the diagnostic value of 46 open lung biopsies performed on 44 immunocompromised children with acute pulmonary infiltrates. We assessed also how frequently the results of these biopsies resulted in a change of therapy. A histological diagnosis was established for all of our patients. At least one infectious agent was found in 72% of the specimens. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis was observed in 24%, and two biopsy specimens demonstrated relapsed malignancy. In this series, the empirically chosen preoperative therapy was altered on 30 (65%) of 46 occasions. Specific therapy, not provided before surgery, was initiated in 26% of our patients, and broad-spectrum preoperative therapy was discontinued in 43%. Open lung biopsy is a valuable diagnostic procedure in the immunocompromised host with pulmonary infiltrates.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology