Bronchoalveolar lavage

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a medical procedure used to collect samples from the lungs. During this procedure, a doctor inserts a thin tube (bronchoscope) through the mouth or nose into the airways. They then flush a small amount of sterile saline solution into a specific lung area and suction it back out. The retrieved fluid contains cells and microorganisms, which can be analyzed to help diagnose respiratory conditions, infections, or diseases like pneumonia or lung cancer. BAL is valuable for understanding lung health and guiding treatment options.