Clinical study
Role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with acute leukemia

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Abstract

The utility and safety of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with acute leukemia have not been examined. The results of 21 bronchoscopic procedures in 19 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and acute leukemia were reviewed. Analysis was confined to the 16 patients who had histopathologically documented infection on biopsy or at autopsy. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy established or suggested the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in eight of 16 (50 percent) patients. Transbronchial or bronchial biopsy added only one diagnosis to those obtained by bronchial washing and brushing. Although fiberoptic bronchoscopy was a safe and well-tolerated procedure in our patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and acute leukemia, its success rate was only 50 percent overall, and it appeared to be even less successful when performed early in the course of the disease. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a useful first procedure for the evaluation of patients with acute leukemia and possible invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, but a negative result does not exclude aspergillosis. Further diagnostic procedures, including repeated bronchoscopy, or institution of empiric antifungal therapy may be warranted if the clinical suspicion of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is high.

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  • Cited by (0)

    1

    From the Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Division, Infectious Diseases Section, and Hematology-Oncology Section, Departments of Medicine and Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Current address: Division of Hematology-Oncology, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, 2074 Abington Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.

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