The pathology of bronchial and pleural biopsies of patients presenting to a tertiary chest clinic in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Introduction : Respiratory diseases are the second leading cause of hospitalization and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Sri Lanka. Objective: To describe the pathology of bronchial and pleural biopsies in patients referred to a tertiary chest clinic in Sri Lanka. . Method: This retrospective study included 127 patients subjected to bronchial or pleural biopsy at the Chest Clinic Kalutara, from January 1998 to April 2000. Histology slides were reviewed at a conference microscope. The clinical details were obtained from the clinic files. Results: There were 101 bronchial and 26 pleural biopsies. Twenty five (19.7 %) had neoplasms, all seen in bronchial biopsies. These comprised 11 squamous, 8 adeno, 5 poorly differentiated non-small cell and one adenoidcystic carcinoma. Of the non-neoplastic group 20 (15.7 %)had pneumonia and its complications. Eighteen (14.2 %) had biopsy confirmed tuberculosis, of these 14 were in pleural biopsies and 4 in bronchial biopsies. Other lesions included fibrosis with chronic inflammation 4 (3.1%), interstitial fibrosis 4 (3.1 Ufo), fungal infections 3 (2.4%) and chronic inflammation 16 (12.6%). Twenty (15.7 %) had non-diagnostic biopsies and normal lung was seen in 17 (13.4%) cases. Conclusion: Neoplasms were the most commonly encountered lesion in our study. However non-neoplastic conditions were also an important cause of morbidity in this group of patients.