[Biopsy of suspected metastatic lung lesions]

Among the tumours of the lung metastatic formations are to be expected in 7.5 to 10% of the cases. This is based on the anamnesis, on the X-ray findings or on the results from bioptical examinations. Compared with primary tumours, cytological investigations of the exfoliative material are less effective (positive results in about 50% of the cases). As metastatic formations primarily manifest themselves in the interstitium and only late touch the bronchial system, direct excision of material or methods of puncture respectively are from the first much more promising. Sixty out of 95 patients with pulmonary processes, supposed to show metastatic formations, had been submitted to a bioptical control, mainly by means of fine needle biopsy, with the following cytological evaluation of the material. In 50 cases it was possible to secure the finding morphologically, i.e. in 83.3% of the cases. The cytological appearance, too, leads to a clear position to the primary tumour, for example in hypernephroid carcinomas, pigment-storing melanomas, diseases of the lymphatic system and various sarcomas.