The Utility of Cytopathology Testing in Lung Transplant Recipients

We conclude that routine cytopathology testing has little additive diagnostic value in bronchoscopic specimens from lung transplant recipients. Cytopathology results did not alter patient management in any of our 366 cases. Centers should consider discontinuing routine use of cytopathology testing of BAL fluid for surveillance or clinically indicated bronchoscopy, because the yield of this expensive test is extremely low in the setting of lung transplantation.