title: The efficacy of bronchial washings in diagnosis of lung carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The accurate diagnosis of lung carcinoma has become compulsory, especially after the introduction of new targeted therapies. The majority of these patients are non-operable, highlighting the importance of the cytology specimen. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic efficacy of bronchial washings in low income countries where this low cost technique is widely performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a study of 118 bronchial washings collected in the Department of Pathology. Bronchial washings were smeared on 5-6 clean slides. These were fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol for haematoxylin and eosin staining. Cases were retrospectively reviewed by two pathologists (FM and MM) together with the corresponding biopsies. False negative cases were reviewed twice, and the diagnosis was reassessed in one case. We calculated the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and Yoden index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed a sensitivity of 56%, specificity of 90%, PPV of 55%, NPV of 76% and a Yoden index of 0.45. These results emphasise the diagnostic efficacy of bronchial washings and the possibility of performing molecular tests on cytology specimens.
authors: Department of Pathology, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, University of Medicine, Tunis El Manar, Tunisia. mlika.zorgati.mona@hotmail.com
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Mlika
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ayadi-Kaddour
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Chebbi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Boudaya
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kilani
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Mezni
mesh_terms: D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies