A Prospective Study of the Timing and Cost-Effectiveness of Bronchial Washing During Bronchoscopy for Pulmonary Malignant Tumors

No difference in the diagnostic yield could be demonstrated for washings before or after biopsies and brushings. Although the additional diagnostic yield of washing and brushing during bronchoscopy is relatively low, it is cost-effective to use these procedures in the diagnostic workup of patients who are clinically suspected of having a pulmonary malignancy.