The clinical management of bronchogenic carcinoma-- A progress report

A number of new concepts in the clinical management of bronchogenic carcinoma have been introduced since an original review of this problem in The Johns Hopkins Medical Journal in 1967. Four specific problems in the updated management of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma are discussed: 1) the patient with cytologic evidence of malignant cells in the sputum and a normal chest radiograph; 2) the patient with an asymptomatic peripheral pulmonary nodule; 3) the patient with symptomatic bronchogenic carcinoma or bronchogenic carcinoma in a lobar or main stem bronchus; 4) the assessment of operability. Tantalum bronchography and fiberoptic bronchoscopy have proven effective in localizing the source of malignant cells shed from a radiologically occult bronchogenic carcinoma. Percutaneous needle biopsy and transbronchial biopsy under fluoroscopic control permit pathological examination of peripheral nodules. Transcervical mediastinoscopy and left parasternal exploration, as well as increased use of angiography and more sophisticated pulmonary function tests, allow better determination of the resectability of central lesions. As a result, fewer patients are subjected to unnecessary thoracotomies, and if thoracotomy is undertaken it usually offers the patient a reasonable chance of cure.