ENGLISH
REFERENCE

BAL

n. C / U
C2 Proficiency US //ˈbæɫ// bal Archaic

n. Stands for Bronchoalveolar Lavage. A liquid used to wash out the lungs during a medical test. Doctors use it to collect cells or fluid to check for diseases.

n. Abbreviation for Bronchoalveolar Lavage. A medical procedure involving the introduction and subsequent aspiration of sterile saline into the lungs to collect cellular and non-cellular components. Often performed during bronchoscopy to diagnose infections or inflammatory conditions.


SIMPLE

The doctor ordered a BAL to check for lung infection.

CONTEXTUAL

During the bronchoscopy, the medical team performed a BAL to obtain samples from the lower respiratory tract for laboratory analysis.

COMPLEX

The diagnostic yield of a BAL is significantly higher in patients with diffuse lung disease, as the fluid provides a representative sample of the alveolar environment.

Usage

Often used as an acronym in medical contexts; the full term is 'bronchoalveolar lavage'.

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