Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) is a safe diagnostic procedure, useful for differentiating fibrotic lung disorders and for excluding malignancy and infection [1–5]. Together with chest high resolution CT (HRCT) and respiratory functional parameters, it is commonly included in the diagnostic work-up for interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) [6]. The use of BAL in the study of ILDs has improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of ILDs, providing useful indications for diagnosis, prognosis and research of biomarkers [7–15].
