Skin test in bronchogenic carcinoma: I. Correlation of the immunological status and the extent of the disease

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Abstract
Delayed hypersensitivity reaction of 58 consecutive cases of bronchogenic carcinoma was studied by skin tests. None of the patients with excellent skin reaction was found to have hematogenous metastasis. All patients with negative skin reaction had hematogenous metastasis and all but two such patients died within 2 months. Patients with localized tumors or lymph node metastases appear to maintain competent delayed hypersensitivity reaction and a move toward more aggressive approaches in treating the patients in this group is proposed. It is suggested that skin testing in bronchogenic carcinoma could provide useful information of the extent of the tumor and immunological status of the patients, and should, therefore, be included in routine work‐ups.