Morphological diagnosis of early cancer of the lung

: The evidence obtained at histologic study of 18 operative specimens from the middle lung involved by early cancer was compared to that obtained at cytological evaluation of the sputum, catheterization and bronchoscopy material. Combined cytologic investigation of the cells resulted in tumor identification in 15 cases, whereas bronchoscopic biopsy was efficient in only 5. The study of the tumor-adjacent bronchi revealed epithelial transformation which can be considered dysplastic. Dysplasia-typical cells recognized in the bronchial contents served the basis for entering relevant patients into the risk group.