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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to compare conventional bronchoscopy with fihe needle aspiration in the diagnosis of cause of mass lesions in the lungs in our setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients presenting to Medical and Chest Units ofNishtar Hospital, Multan who had mass lesion in the lung on chest X-ray were included in the study. Both bronchoscopy and FNA were done in all the patients. RESULTS; A total of 81 patients were studied between 1993 and 1998. There were 72 males and 9 females. Their ages varied from 18 to 85 years, with an average age of 51.71 years. A final diagnosis was possible in 74 (91%) cases; 62 (76%) patients had malignancy, 12 (15%) patients had non-neoplastic diseases of which tuberculosis was the commonest (7.5%) and 7 (9%) patients remained undiagnosed. Bronchoscopy showed endobronchial lesions in 39 cases. Bronchial brushings and bronchial biopsy from these lesions led to the diagnosis in 35 cases (90%). Brushings were also taken from the suspected areas in 42 cases without endobronchial lesions and only 5 cases (12%) showed evidence of malignancy. Fine Needle Aspiration was carried out in all 81 cases and it was positive in 65 cases (80%). In 39 cases with centrally located lesions FNA was positive in 28 cases (72%); in 42 peripherally located lesions FNA was diagnostic in 37 cases (88%). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that bronchoscopy had better yield in the centrally located lesions while FNA showed better results in peripherally located lesions.