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The diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage in immunocompetent children with chronic diffuse pulmonary infiltrates
Author(s) -
Fan Leland L.,
Lum Lung M. Colleen,
Wagener Jeffrey S.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-0496(199701)23:1<8::aid-ppul1>3.0.co;2-n
Subject(s) - medicine , neutrophilia , bronchoalveolar lavage , lymphocytosis , eosinophilia , differential diagnosis , respiratory disease , pathology , chest radiograph , gastroenterology , lung
We have investigated the diagnostic value of (BAL) in 29 immunocompetent children (ages 1 month to 18 years) with chronic diffuse pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiograph who presented for evaluation over a 3‐year period. The median age at the time of the BAL was 20 months with a range of 1–210 months. Positive results (1) diagnostic of a primary disorder; (2) consistent with a diagnosis; or (3) diagnostic of a secondary disorder, were obtained in 20/29 patients (13 with a single positive BAL finding and 7 with more than one finding). BAL was diagnostic of a primary disorder in only 5 patients (17%) with aspiration detected in 3 and infection in 2. The differential diagnosis was narrowed in 15 patients by the presence of lymphocytosis, neutrophilia, or eosinophilia. A secondary disorder was uncovered in 8 patients. Negative results were obtained in 9 additional patients. We conclude that BAL provided useful information in children with chronic diffuse infiltrates, but its ability to determine the primary cause was limited. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1997; 23:8–13. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc