Diagnosis of interstitial lung disease by a percutaneous lung biopsy sample

A percutaneous lung biopsy sample was used to diagnose interstitial lung disease in nine children aged less than 42 months. Fibrosing alveolitis was diagnosed in eight children and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in one child. Complications associated with the procedure were minimal and the results of the biopsy sample enabled each child to be treated appropriately.