BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE STUDY IN PATIENTS OF SUSPECTED LUNG CANCER

BACKGROUND Bronchoalveolar lavage study in Bronchoscopy is done routinely during Bronchoscopy in patients suspected of lung cancer. The aim of the study was to find out the importance of this procedure in detecting lung cancer including the co-existence of other diseases like Tuberculosis in suspicion of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS It was a descriptive study of Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) studies done in lung cancer suspects with negative sputum smear for Acid Fast Bacilli, presented at the Department of Respiratory Medicine of a Medical College Hospital in a remote area. The results of BAL reports recorded for all the 93 patients who presented to the department from December 2016 to May 2017 were studied. All the BAL samples were subjected to Cytology study and CBNAAT-TB (Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test for TB). RESULTS Out of the 93 BAL reports of lung cancer suspects, 21 were found to be having lung cancer alone and 3 were found to be having lung cancer with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and 2 were found to be having Pulmonary Tuberculosis. CONCLUSION BAL study is an important tool in detection of Lung cancer in India. It is useful for detection of Tuberculosis in patients with negative sputum smear for Acid Fast Bacilli. Our study further shows that patients presenting with symptoms and radiological findings suggestive of lung cancer are also found to be having coexisting Tuberculosis. It also reveals that TB should be a differential diagnosis of lung cancer and possibility of coexistence of both diseases should always be considered in our country.