Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in sarcoidosis.

Twenty-nine patients with clinical signs, chest X-ray and histology consistent with sarcoidosis have been studied with flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) and scalene node biopsy. The diagnostic yield from bronchial mucosal biopsies was 41%, and from transbronchial lung biopsy 43%. 52% of the patients showed epithelioid cell granulomas with FFB (lung and/or mucosal biopsies) compared with 79% with scalene node biopsy. Three patients showed extensive bronchial mucosal changes with stenosing processes due to sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis of the bronchial mucosa is a frequnt finding, and FFB is the best method for discovering bronchial mucosal sarcoidosis with or without stenosing processes. In our opinion, FFB has a place as a routine method in diagnosing sarcoidosis.