[Preliminary evaluation of the diagnostic usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in selected cases of interstitial lung diseases].

Diagnostic usefulness of BAL was assessed in 25 selected cases of interstitial lung diseases. There were 14 cases of allergic alveolitis, 6 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and one case each of sarcoidosis, lymphangiomyomatosis, granulomotosis bronchocentrica, lymphogranulomatosis maligna, alveolitis of unknown etiology. BAL was assessed diagnostically usefull in 77% of the cases. More helpful was medical history which proved to be useful in all cases, and pulmonary function tests which were helpful in 84%. Lung biopsy was diagnostic in 66.6% of the cases, TBLB in 36.5%, while open lung biopsy carried out in 6 patients was diagnostic in 100%. Bronchoalveolar lavage is a useful element of diagnostic evaluation in patients with interstitial lung disorders, it is a safe method and well tolerated by the patients.