Pulmonary invasive aspergillosis is frequently difficult to diagnose. In particular, the value of the cultivation of Aspergillus and the Aspergillus galactomannan antigen detection (Pastorex) in bronchoscopically acquired material (bronchoalveolar lavage = BAL, bronchial lavage = BL) in the course of diagnosing this mycosis is viewed controversially. Between January 1996 and September 1999, we obtained 114 positive results in 100 bronchoscopically aquired specimens from a total of 69 patients. 59 of the 69 patients were immunosuppressed, 42 suffered from pulmonary aspergillosis and 38 suffered from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. The positive prediction rate for a positive result with regard to pulmonary aspergillosis in bronchoscopically acquired material was approximately 61%. Cultivation of Aspergillus was more successful in BAL, and the Aspergillus antigen detection was more successful in BL.