[The history of bronchial carcinoma]

Up to the mid 19 (th) century primary bronchial carcinoma was unknown. Primary tumours and metastases of malignant lung tumours were often not distinguished one from the other. Only in 1871, Theodor Langhans from Marburg reported the first certain observation of bronchial carcinoma. Definite information on the increasing frequency of lung and bronchial carcinomas at the beginning of the 20 (th) century was only obtained by autopsy statistics. The Cancer Registry of the Saarland showed that the incidence of lung cancer has not increased since 1970 in men, but has tripled in women. Already in 1923, Theodor Fahr from Hamburg referred to the danger of smoking. In Germany the so-called Schneeberg's lung cancer plays an important role among occupational lung cancer diseases. Only after Germany's reunification the drama of the uranium miners of the former so-called Wismut AG became fully known. Regarding occupational diseases, asbestos-related bronchial carcinomas and mesotheliomas are at the top of the causes of death today.