The Diagnostic Significance of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Leukemia and Malignant Lymphoma Cases with Abnormal Shadows on Chest X-ray

Abstract

The author investigated cytograms and bacterial examinations of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in 16 leukemia and 9 malignant lymphoma cases with abnormal shadows on chest X-ray. Predominant types of abnormal shadows were diffuse in leukemia and massive or focally substantial in malignant lymphoma. Increase of macrophage population and decrease of lymphocyte population were characteristic features on cytograms. Tumor cells were found in 18.8% of leukemia cases and in 33.3% of malignant lymphoma cases. Infective organisms were detected in 37.5 and 22.2% of cases, respectively. An increase of red blood cells and erythrocyte-or-hemosiderin phagocytic macrophages indicating hemorrhage were detected in 18.8 and 11.1% of cases. Cytogram abnormalities such as predominant lymphocytes apart from the above 3 findings were found in 18.8 and 11.1% of cases. Whereas hemorrhage and infection were mostly seen after chemotherapy, tumor infiltration and cytogram abnormality were seen previously. Some abnormal findings were found in about 90% of all 25 cases, therefore investigation of BALF is a safe and beneficial method.