Usefulness of transbronchial biopsy in immunosuppressed patients with pulmonary infiltrates.

In a retrospective study of thirty-one immunosuppressed patients with new pulmonary infiltrates transbronchial biopsy provided a specific diagnosis in 11 of the 31 (36%) patients. In a further five patients, whose biopsy showed non-specific interstitial pneumonitis, a specific diagnosis was established by other means. Overall a specific diagnosis was obtained in 52% of patients. Twelve patients were left with a diagnosis of non-specific …