Background: The present study was undertaken for comparing the results of bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy. Materials & methods:30 specimens of bronchoalveolar lavage submitted for cytological examination and all the specimens of transbronchial lung biopsy submitted for histopathological examination were included in the study. The relevant data of patient was recorded in pre designed performa. The BAL fluid was collected in containers that didn’t promoted cell adherence to container surfaces. A minimal volume of 5 ml of a pooled BAL sample was needed for BAL cellular analysis. Three micron thick paraffin sections were cut and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain. The slides were then subjected to histopathological examination under both low power (10x) and high power (40x). Results: Malignant pathologies and non-malignant pathologies were seen in 50 percent of the patients each. Overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of BAL in diagnosing malignant pathologies were 72.32%, 88.46% and 79% respectively. Overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of BAL in diagnosing non- malignant pathologies were 88.46, 72.32% and 79% respectively. Conclusion: The diagnosis of neoplastic lesions of the lung is a diagnostic problem for pulmonologists because some malignant lesions mimic infectious or inflammatory conditions. In such a clinical setting, BAL has a relevant role in detecting neoplastic cells or can also rule out malignant lesions.