Bronchiolar carcinoma: a report of six cases

Bronchiolar carcinoma is a malignant tumour which apparently arises in a terminal bronchiole from which it spreads either by bronchial embolization or by lymphogenous and/or hematogenous dissemination. It is not a common neoplasm.Histologically, the tumour bears a striking resemblance to the disease of sheep, jagziekte, which is of virus etiology. A very common finding in reported cases is preexisting pulmonary fibrosis. At the Nova Scotia Sanatorium, Kentville, 80 cases of primary lung cancer have been encountered within the past 25 years. Six of these were bronchiolar carcinomas. Five patients had co-existing chronic pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis in one and tuberculosis in four. One patient died of a rapidly progressive bilateral lesion and five were explored. Lobectomy was done in all five, but in one for palliation only. Three patients are alive and well three, six and 14 years, respectively, after their operations.