Peripheral pulmonary diseases: evaluation with endobronchial US initial experience

Endobronchial ultrasonography (US) with 4.5-F small-caliber US probes, combined with bronchoalveolar lavage technique, was evaluated in autopsied lungs and 22 patients with various pulmonary interstitial or alveolar diseases. Several different echoic patterns were found that may reflect changes due to pathologic alteration of lung parenchyma. This technique may have potential for evaluation and diagnosis of peripheral lung diseases.