Background: The flexible bronchoscope has proved to be a versatile instrument with many clinical implications. Since its introduction 52 years ago; it has completely changed the perspective of diagnosis and treatment of various conditions affecting lungs. A prospective study was carried out to know the efficacy of bronchoscopic biopsyin patients of pulmonary diseases andto assess the clinical, bronchoscopicand pathological correlation.

Setting: Department of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, S.N.Medical College, Agra

Methodology: Flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoscopic biopsy was performed under local anesthesia in patients of bronchopulmonary diseases and biopsy specimens were sent for histopathological examinations.

Results: Endobronchial abnormalities were visualized in nearly 47.7% case. Mostcommon   finding   was exophytic growth seen in 57.1% of cases studied. Out of 44 cases, 36.36% were diagnosed as carcinomas and 43.18 % as non neoplastic. Squamous cell carcinoma (50%) was most common neoplastic lesion followed by adenocarcinoma (37.5%) in neoplastic category.

Conclusion: Bronchialbiopsy is simple and safe procedure which can be performed in out patients and provides significantly higher diagnostic yield in bronchopulmonary diseases with negligible minor complications.

Keywords: Tubercular pleural effusion, Fibreoptic bronchoscopy, Endobronchial Biopsy.

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Dr Ajay Kumar Verma

Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine

King George Medical University, Lucknow, UP, India

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