Diagnostic agreement between bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy in patients with suspected pulmonary diseases: A single-center study

Our findings underscore the critical role of BAL cytology in the diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoma and infectious processes while also revealing its limitations in detecting interstitial lung diseases. The TBLB procedure emerges as an indispensable technique for accurate histopathological evaluation in lung cancer diagnostics. The integration of BAL and TBLB not only enhances diagnostic yield but also provides a more comprehensive understanding of pulmonary pathologies. Notably, we found moderate agreement between BAL and TBLB in neoplastic cases and fair agreement in non-neoplastic conditions, suggesting a nuanced interplay between these methodologies that could inform clinical practice and improve patient outcomes. This study advocates a combined approach in diagnostic frameworks to optimize the management of patients with suspected pulmonary diseases, paving the way for more precise and effective diagnoses in the field of cytology.