Abstract
Fifty smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy. Bronchial aspirate smears of twelve patients and post-bronchoscopic sputum smears of fourteen patients were positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Bronchial biopsy provided the diagnosis in 9 out of 30 patients. Brush smears were positive in 28 patients, being the only positive sample in ten cases. A high yield from brush smears was obtained due to their preparation from caseous material wherever visible in the bronchi. With these results a rapid diagnosis was established in 36 of the 50 patients. When culture results were available, a definite diagnosis of tuberculosis was made in 45 of the patients. The yield from brush smears was found to be significantly better when compared to bronchial aspirate smears (p < 0.01) and post-bronchoscopic sputum smears (p < 0.01).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 804-806 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | European Respiratory Journal |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 9 |
Publication status | Published - 1988 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine