Pattern of Isolated Fungi From Bronchoalveolar Lavage Among Patients With Lung Cancer, a Prospective Cross Sectional Study.

The role of infection as a cause of lung cancer is still being debated. Also, identification of potentially pathogenic organisms colonizing the lower respiratory tract in patients with lung cancer is important as this may increase the risk of lung infections in the natural course of lung cancer that can restrain the effect of oncological treatment and affect their survival (Klastersky and Aoun, 2004). Screening those cases for fungal colonization of the respiratory tract would characterize patients who needed closer monitoring for the occurrence of potential complications such as acute invasive fungal infection (Biswas et al., 2010).

Aim of the study The aim of the study is to detect the prevalence and pattern of isolated fungi from patients with lung cancer at the time of diagnosis before starting chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Patients:

Inclusion criteria:

Patients presented to chest medicine department outpatient clinic with radiological and/or clinical manifestations suspicious of lung cancer such as a hilar mass, collapse or unresolved consolidation with accompanying volume loss according to Hollings and Shawn, (2000), will be subjected to FOB for diagnosis. Those definitely diagnosed as central bronchogenic carcinoma will be included in the study.