Comparative Diagnostic Yield of Endobronchial Cryo Biopsy vs Forceps Biopsy in Patients With Suspected Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic granulomatous disease of unknown cause that is characterized by the formation of non-caseous epithelioid cell granulomas. Sarcoidosis involves the respiratory system in \> 90% of cases, usually the hilar and mediastinal nodes, and, less frequently, the lung tissue. Airway involvement, as judged by clinical features, physiologic testing, imaging techniques, bronchoscopy, and airway mucosal biopsy, has been observed in nearly two-thirds of patients with sarcoidosis. Although sarcoidosis involving thoracic lymph nodes and pulmonary parenchyma is familiar to most clinicians, airway involvement is often overlooked. The frequency of airway involvement increases as the parenchymal disease progresses, and\\airway involvement is associated with increased morbidity, respiratory symptoms, and mortality. The initial airway abnormality is the inflammation manifested by