ABSTRACT

The bronchoscopy is a procedure used to diagnose airway pathology. The aim of this report is to describe the results of 150 bronchoscopies made in a second level attention hospital, during a 5 year period. During the procedure bronchial biopsy was taken, brushing and bronchial washing was done. The samples were processed for histopathologic and microbiologic studies. The range of ages went from 15 to 92 years with an average of 66.8 years, 109 Male (72%) and 41 female (28%). A definite diagnose was obtained in 88% of the cases. Cancer was diagnosed in 57 cases (38%), tuberculosis 47 (32%), mycosis 17 (11%) and 29 with diverse pathology (19%). With the cytological brushing and bronchial cytological washing 93% of the cancer cases were diagnosed, 93% of the tuberculosis and 88% of the mycosis. With the biopsy 72% of the cancer cases were diagnosed, 13% of tuberculosis and 12% of mycosis. Using the brushing with the bronchial washing more cases of cancer, tuberculosis and mycosis were diagnosed than with the biopsy. The most frequent type of cancer was the epidermoid (70%) followed by adenocarcinoma (22%).

KEYWORDS

Bronchoscopy, bronchial biopsy, brushing-washing.

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