%0 Journal Article %T The Value of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in the Diagnosis of Sputum Smear-NegativePulmonary Tuberculosis %J Iranian Journal of Pathology %I Farname Inc in collaboration with Iranian Society of Pathology %Z 1735-5303 %A Nikbakhsh1, Novin %A Bayani, Masomeh %A Siadati, Sepideh %D 2015 %\ 01/01/2015 %V 10 %N 1 %P 35-40 %! The Value of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in the Diagnosis of Sputum Smear-NegativePulmonary Tuberculosis %K Pulmonary Tuberculosis %K Bronchoalveolar Lavage %K Sputum %R 10.7508/ijp.2015.01.005 %X Background and Objectives: Sputum smear staining for acid-fast bacilli is initial approach to the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) but more than 50% of cases are sputum smear-negative. This study was aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) guided bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients suspected to have tuberculosis. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out on 290 sputum smear-negative patients who were clinically suspicious for PTB in 2006-12. All patients were subjected to FOB andBAL, then BAL specimens stained and cultured. Results: Of the 290 patients, 173 cases (59.7%) were men and 117 cases (40.3%) were women with the age of 52.6±19.1 years (ranged 20-76 years). Of the total 290 BAL specimens, 110 specimens (38%) were positive for acid-fast bacilli. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV was 60%, 91%, 89% and 64%, respectively. Also, LR+ and LR- was 64.6% and 0.44%, respectively. Conclusion: FOB guided BAL is a reliable, rapid and useful method for establishing the diagnosis of smear negative PTB with minimal complications.   %U https://ijp.iranpath.org/article_8289_41afc09015230ea5c36b693e59ef5dfe.pdf