Cell-type diagnosis of advanced central bronchogenic carcinoma without restoring to major thoracotomy

ABSTRACT

Seventy-three patients [forty-five males and twenty-eight males] who had central bronchogenic carcinoma were diagnosed. The methods utilized in the diagnosis were revised to decide a rapid diagnostic approach without restoring to major thoracotomy. According to the radiologic features, they were classified into total lung atelectasis [six patients], para- cardiac shadow [thirty patients], hilar and para-hilar shadows [sixteen patients], para-tracheal shadow [sixteen patients] and more than of the mentioned features [five patients]. Bronchoscopically, they were classified into those with visualized lesions [22 patients] and non-visualized lesions [51 patients]. Palpable scalene lymph gland was positive in all specimens [100%] regardless of the radiologic or the bronchoscopic classification. This is in contrast to non-palpable node which produced negative diagnosis in all specimens. Bronchoscopic biopsy was positive in all cases with visualized lesions, while blind biopsy was positive in 9% of non-visualized lesions. The patients with non- visualized growth and non-palpable scalene node could be diagnosed safely by anterior mediastinotomy without restoring to major thoracotomy. This procedure has many advantages