Bronchoscopy and endobronchial disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

ABSTRACT

The natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been significantly altered since the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, lung diseases are still common in these patients. This makes flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy a valuable diagnostic tool. Knowledge of the visual appearance of various diseases would be of utmost importance to the bronchoscopist. Timely recognition of the endobronchial appearance of these diseases can narrow the differential diagnosis and potentially mitigate an avoidable delay in the diagnosis.