Evaluation of patients with bronchial carcinoma

Results of diagnostic procedures are presented on 259 successive patients with bronchial cancer at Päivärinne Chest Hospital during the period 1967-73. The most common tumours were epidermoid (56%), 'small cell' (20.5%) and adenocarcinoma (9.5%). In 106 patients (41%) chest radiography suggested a tumour, though bronchoscopy was normal, and in 22 cases (8.5%) the radiograph was normal but bronchoscopy revealed a tumour. In 10 (4%) both the radiological and the bronchoscopic findings were normal. A definite histopathological diagnosis was reached by bronchoscopy in 144 patients (44%), by mediastinoscopy in 14 (5%), by fine needle biopsy in 28 (11%) and operatively in 103 (40%). Using all methods of treatment prognosis was significantly better in the group that had been diagnosed by mass miniature radiography, or accidentally (29% alive) as compared with those who had symptoms of the disease (6%).