Localization of double, roentgenographically occult lung cancer. Cytologic findings from selective brushing of all segmental and subsegmental bronchi.

Using selective brushing of all segmental and subsegmental bronchi, six patients were diagnosed as having synchronous, double, roentgenographically occult lung cancers. Experienced bronchoscopists failed to detect four «second cancer» lesions in six patients. The appearance of atypical cells as shown by cytologic examination indicated the probability of the presence of cancer in the examined bronchus. Single cancer cells or tiny clusters of cells with orangeophilic cytoplasm can appear in specimens obtained from all bronchi, and such cells should not be considered to have originated in the bronchi under examination