Abnormal bronchoalveolar lavage fluid morphology

What it means

Abnormal type or counts of nucleated immune cells and acellular components in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. BAL us performed with a fiberoptic bronchoscope in the wedged position within a selected bronchopulmonary segment. BAL is commonly used to inform the differential diagnosis of interstitial lung disease or to monitor therapeutic interventions.

Red blood cells in the BAL fluid are noted (e.g. present in pulmonary hemorrhage syndromes), but not counted, Similarly epithelial cells are only noted, not included numerically into cell differential.

Part of the broader category