[Beta-2-microglobulin in bronchogenic carcinoma]

In 77 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and 46 patients with non-tumorous lung diseases the serum concentration of beta-2-microglobulin was assessed. The revealed differences between groups were not statistically significant. The group with bronchogenic carcinoma was sub-divided by morphological types: epidermoid carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small-cell and large cell carcinoma. The group of large cell carcinomas was too small for statistical evaluation, the other differences between different morphological types were not statistically significant. Assessment of the serum concentration of beta-2-microglobulin is of no value in the differential diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma.