Evaluation of unguided transbronchial biopsy in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease--its safety and efficacy as an out-patient procedure.

ABSTRACT

Sixty-five patients underwent unguided fiberoptic transbronchial biopsy on an out-patient basis. Satisfactory material for histopathological examination was obtained in 55 patients. A reasonably definite pathological diagnosis could be established in 51 patients. The commonest diagnosis arrived at was that of interstitial fibrosis. Complications were observed in 4 (6.2%) patients. Fiberoptic transbronchial biopsy is, therefore, a safe and efficacious out-patient technique for establishing a pathological diagnosis in patients with infiltrative, diffuse or localized pulmonary disease.