ABSTRACT
Background: Bronchoscopy is an essential technique for diagnosis of some lung diseases by taking samples for histological and cytological tests. Objective: To assess the role of transbronchial lung biopsy procedure in diagnosis some parenchymal pulmonary diseases. Subjects and method: A retrospective study conducted in 50 patients with diffuse and localized lung diseases, who were admitted to the Department of Respiratory in Bach Mai Hospital, from January 2003 to December 2005. Results: Transbronchial lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in 30 of 50 (60%) cases; with localized malignant lesions (12%), diffuse lung disease (16%), tuberculosis (28%), and cystic fibrosis (4%). Following transbronchial lung biopsy, two patients had pneumothorax (1 patient had chest tube drainage) and five patients had hemoptysis but no of them required further treatment. Conclusions: Transbronchial lung biopsy offer good diagnostic accuracy and low complication rate.