[Epithelial dysplasia of the bronchi and lung cancer]

Epithelium alterations such as hyperplasia of goblet and basal cells, transitional-cell and/or squamous-cell metaplasia with cell polymorphism, disturbance of stratification are revealed in the bronchial biopsies and bronchi of the lungs surgically removed for cancer; these alterations are interpreted as dysplasia of bronchial epithelium. The foci of intra-epithelial carcinoma were also found. Dysplastic changes of bronchial epithelium should be regarded as a factor increasing the risk of lung cancer.