Optimal Number and Sites for Diagnosis

and the radiographic distribution of infiltrates. Biopsies from the predominantly rather than the lesser involved lobe proved the diagnosis in all of these patients, except for the two patients with nodular sarcoid. We conclude that ten biopsies are optimal for obtaining the diagnosis in stage-i disease; however, five biopsies may be adequate in non-nodular disease of stage 2 and 3 if the biopsies are of the lobe predominantly involved on the roentgenogram of the chest.