TRANS-BRONCHIAL NEEDLE ASPIRATION IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING OF BRONCHOGENIC-CARCINOMA

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Abstract
Lung cancer often requires an invasive surgical procedure to document inoperability. Using a fiberoptic bronchoscope with a flexible needle that can penetrate the walls of the brachea and major bronch mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes were sampled 32 patients. Of 18 patients presenting with a diagnostic problem, 11 had aspirates that were positive for cancer. Surgery in 6 of the remaining 7 showed cancer in 4 (false negative). Ten other patients presented with a staging problem. Four had positive mediastinal aspirates; 3 of these 4 had a normal or equivocally normal mediastinum on chest roentgenogram. Surgery in 4 of the remaining 6 showed no cancer in 4 (true negatives). The procedure was also diagnostic in 2 of 4 patients with recurrent mediastinal small cell carcinoma and in 3 patients with intrabronchial necrotic tumors. There were no complications. This is a safe, easily performed procedure that can replace more invasive procedures in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.

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