CYTOLOGY OF SPUTUM AND BRONCHIAL SECRETIONS: STUDIES ON 588 PATIENTS WITH MISCELLANEOUS PULMONARY LESIONS

Abstract

In a group of 588 cases of miscellaneous chest diseases, in which a routine cytologic examination of sputum or bronchial secretions was carried out, 147 cases of proved or suspected broncho-genic carcinoma occurred. Of these 147 cases, 100 were detected by a cytologic examination of sputum or bronchial secretions. No known false positive diagnoses occurred in this series. Of 93 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma who underwent bronchoscopic examination, a positive biopsy was obtained in 38%. In this same group, cytologic studies were positive on 65 patients.