Yield of Endobronchial Biopsy in Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Clinically Suspected Patients

Abstract

Objective To assess the yield of endobronchial biopsy by fiberoptic bronchoscope for diagnosis of tuberculosis in clinically suspected patients. Methods The study was carried out at the Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care, Military Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan from January 2010 through August 2010. All patients with clinically suspected tuberculosis and three consecutive negative sputum smears for acid fast bacilli were included in the study. The patients underwent bronchoscopy and biopsy of the suspected lesion was submitted to laboratory for histopathological examination. The histological diagnosis of chronic granulomatous inflammation and chronic caseating granulomatous inflammation was taken to be consistent with the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Results Thirty patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria reported during the study period. 12 (40%) were males and 18 (60%) females. Mean age of the patients was 50 (±18) years with range 18 to 80 years. On histopathological evaluation of the biopsy samples, 25 (83%) out of 30 patients were diagnosed as having tuberculosis. Conclusion Our observations suggest that fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a reliable and effective procedure with adequate yield in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in clinically suspected patients.