Comparison of bronchial washing, brushing and biopsy for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The diagnostic yields of bronchial washings, bronchial brushings and lung biopsy specimens were compared in 50 patients with positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures. The number of positive results obtained with cultures of bronchial brushings was significantly higher than that with bronchial washings (p less than 0.001). The histological study of biopsy lung material improved the rate of immediate or rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis (p less than 0.001).