Relative accuracy of diagnostic method in bronchogenic carcinoma

The definitive diagnosis confirming lung cancer by microscopic examination is indicated before the therapy whenever possible and particularly prior to undertaking thoracotomy in situations when tissue diagnosis is not achieved. In such situations the thoracotomy becomes diagnostic with the therapeutic procedure. In clinically suspected cancer of the lung, histological confirmation is usually available at times, and cytology confirmation must suffice. At Tata Memorial Hospital for cancer and allied diseases in Bombay, India, we analyzed retrospectively 298 cases, which were submitted for different diagnostic procedures in suspected lung cancer. The yield of positive tissue diagnosis of malignancy obtained by each method is described and discussed. We observed that transthoracic needle biopsy gives significant information on inflammatory diseases of the lung. The sputum examination makes the simplest revelation of malignant cells, to an extent of 53% at our institution for three successive samples.