title: Fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease in the immunocompromised host in northern Alberta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the diagnostic utility of bronchoscopy in a population of immunocompromised hosts in northern Alberta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results from bronchoscopy in 86 immunocompromised patients who underwent a total of 101 procedures were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall diagnostic yield was 57% with the highest yield in patients on immunosuppressive drug therapy (80%) and the lowest yield in the group of bone marrow transplant patients (27%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bronchoscopy is a valuable tool for the evaluation of pulmonary disease in the immunocompromised host. Overall diagnostic yield of 57% is comparable with that reported in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crocket
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Chaput
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lien