Bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with atypical pneumonia

Background: Atypical pneumonia mimics diffuse interstitial lung disease (DILD) on chest x-ray and can progress to the lung fibrosis. Patients and methods: 16 patients with DILD seen on chest X-ray.We performed BAL,bronchoscopic lung biopsy, serology for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia spp, Legionella spp and measurement of TLco. Results: 9 patients with reticular opacities bilateral, 3 patients with reticular pattern and nodules, 2 with patients reticular pattern and BHL, 2 patients with ground glass and reticular opacity on chest x-ray. Interstitial pneumonia was diagnosed in 7 patients, interstitial and intra…