The value of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis

Abstract

To evaluate the role of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. A retrospective analysis was conducted for 200 patients who were diagnosed to have sarcoidosis and underwent bronchoscopy from June 2009 to June 2014 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The diagnostic value of different bronchoscopic procedures was analyzed. Of the 200 patients, 145 were finally confirmed to have sarcoidosis by pathology through bronchoscopic sampling techniques. The diagnostic yields of endobronchial biopsy (EBB), transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), and EBUS-TBNA were 71.14%, 46.77%, 46.80%, respectively. The yields among the 3 techniques were statistically different. In those with mucosal lesions, the yield of EBB was 80.80%, while that of the combination of EBB, TBLB and EBUS-TBNA was 83.3%, the difference being not significant. In those without mucosal lesions, the yields of EBB, and the combination of EBB, TBLB and EBUS-TBNA were 20.8% and 48.0% respectively, with significant difference(χ(2)=4.463, P=0.035). EBB is a preferred approach for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis with endobronchial abnormalities, while for cases without mucosal lesions, combined TBLB, EBUS-TBNA and bronchoalveolar lavage can improve the diagnostic yield.