Catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy in multiple endocrine neoplasia.

1744 Communications to the Editor ble; however, the BAL fluid grew Mycobacterium kansasii. The patient was started on a triple antituherculotis drug regimen. Follow-up chest radiographs showed a decreasing but persistent airfluid level up to four months after the BAL procedure. Sarcidosis is frequently associated with large fibrocystic spaces that cmmunicate with the airways. It is surprising, therefore, that BAL has not been reported to he associated with the development of an air-fluid level in these cystic spaces. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. In this patient, contributing factors may include the unusually large size and gravity-dependent location of the cystic space, the instillation of large volumes of lavage fluid, and the presence of superimposed M kansasii infection. We would like to advise caution when performing BAL in patients vith large fibrocystic spaces in the dependent segments of the lungs.