title: [Diffuse interstitial lung disease: What is the role of bronchoalveolar lavage?].
abstract: Bonchoalveolar lavage is a safe and poorly invasive tool with a great diagnostic value particularly in diffuse infiltrative pulmonary diseases (IPD). In specific instances, it allows for a definite diagnosis (alveolar hemorrhage; alveolar proteinosis, lipidoses, infiltrative malignant diseases, opportunistic infections), obviating the need to perform more invasive diagnostic procedures like video-assisted surgical biopsy. In inflammatory IPD, either idiopathic, diagnostic or associated with inhaled antigens or with collagen vascular diseases for instance, it represents a crucial orientation diagnostic tool, considerably narrowing the spectrum of potential differential diagnosis.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Israël-Biet
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pastré
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Juvin
mesh_terms: D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000379:methods; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis