Cellular Atypias in Sputum and Bronchial Secretions Associated with Tuberculosis and Bronchiectasis

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Abstract
Cellular atypia observed in sputums and bronchial washings of 90 cases of histologically proven tuberculosis and bronchiectasis was surveyed. No special type of atypia was noted that could be regarded as diagnostically characteristic of either of these pathologic lesions. A cytohistopathologic correlation was attempted based upon cytologic examination of sputums and bronchial washings and routine sections from surgical or autopsy specimens. With the exception of 1 case, atypical cells could not be traced as to their possible origin in routine sections, indicating that routine sections are not suitable for cytologic verification in such instances. Inasmuch as carcinoma in situ may be a grossly invisible lesion, a few random sections in which no cytologic atypia is observed can not be regarded as proof of a false-positive report. An attempt was made to find the possible site of origin of some atypical cells in lung sections from cases with similar pathologic diagnosis. A few cellular patterns are illustrated that seemed to correspond to areas of squamous metaplasia, basal cell hyperplasia, and bronchiolar cell atypias.