Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in sarcoidosis.
Twenty-nine patients with clinical signs, chest X-ray and histology consistent with sarcoidosis have been studied with flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) and scalene node biopsy. The diagnostic yield from bronchial mucosal biopsies was 41%, and from transbronchial lung biopsy 43%. 52% of the patients showed epithelioid cell granulomas with FFB (lung and/or mucosal biopsies) compared with 79% with scalene node biopsy. Three patients showed extensive bronchial mucosal changes with stenosing processes due to sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis of the bronchial mucosa is a frequnt finding, and FFB is the best method for discovering bronchial mucosal sarcoidosis with or without stenosing processes. In our opinion, FFB has a place as a routine method in diagnosing sarcoidosis.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*