Sensitivity and Specificity of Transbronchial Lung Biopsy (TBLB)

Twenty-five patients underwent flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination under fluoroscopic guidance. All patients had an endoscopically invisible pulmonary lesion suggestive of malignancy. A diagnostic specimen was obtained in 23 of the 25 patients (92%). A pathological finding of lung cancer was obtained in 14 patient (56%) through the transbronchial lung biopsy (12 cases) and by washing cytology (2 cases). Remaining 11 patients who were undiagnosed for pulmonary malignancy were followed by clinically had roentgenographically over 6 months. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the TBLB procedures including brushing cytology and noted an 82.4% in sensitivity and 100% in specificity.

An Experience in Fiberopticbronchoscopy in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Diseases

We analysed the results of the 521 bronchofiberscopies which was carried out at the Severance Hospital during 1977-1980. The purpose of the bronchofiberscopic procedures were diagnostic in 488 cases (93.8%), therapeutic in 18 cases (3.4%) and follow up observation in 15 cases (2.8%). It's major role is in the diagnosis of lung cancer and the tuberculosis in our hospital. In 190 patients of lung cancer confirmed positive typing was possible in 72.9% by bronchial biopsy, 52.6% by washing cytology. In 48 patient with tuberculosis who was not diagnosed before bronchofiberscopy, tubercle bacilli were found in 20% by AFB smear, 51% by AFB culture and 68.4% by bronchoscopic biopsy. Complications were minimal(1.9%).