[Bone marrow examination in small cell lung cancer--report of 87 cases]

From Jan. 1984 to May 1986, bone marrow examination was done in 87 cases of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The positive rate of bone marrow metastasis was 19.5% in all, 14.5% for the limited stage and 54.5% for the extensive stage. By bone marrow examination, 11 cases were up-staged from limited to extensive stage, indicating that the bone marrow examination is very important for SCLC clinical staging. Among the 87 cases, 40 were examined by ECT bone scan. The positive rate was 25.0% (10/40) in all, 21.2% and 42.9% for the limited and extensive stages. Statistically, there was no significant difference in the positive rate between bone marrow examination and ECT bone scan. Among patients who were positive both in bone marrow examination and ECT bone scan, X-ray showed bony metastasis only in 2, suggesting that the bone marrow examination and ECT bone scan be superior to X-ray examination. In 17 patients positive for bone marrow examination, 12 were examined by ECT bone scan. Eight gave positive and 4 negative result. In 10 patients positive for ECT bone scan, 8 were positive and 2 negative by bone marrow examination. It is suggested that these two methods be not replaceable but supplementary to each other. However, the bone marrow examination, being exact, simple and practical, is eligible for extensive use.