REVERSIBILITY OF BRONCHIAL CELL ATYPIA

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (10) , 4241-4247
Abstract
Various degrees of cellular atypia were induced in the bronchial epithelium of dogs by means of repeated submucous 20-methylcholanthrene injections. Thereafter, the 20-methylcholanthrene treatment was stopped, and the outcome of the bronchial cell atypias in individual dogs was studied using cytomorphological and cytochemical methods. The various degrees of 20-methylcholanthrene-induced cellular atypias, including those cytologially interpreted as malignant, may reflect reversible cellular alterations which disappear after removal of the carcinogen. Similar observations were made in a group of cigarette smokers who, after malignant-appearing cells were observed in the sputum material, stopped smoking or significantly reduced their cigarette consumption.