[The sputum and detection of pulmonary carcinoma. II. Classification ofoncologically suspicious findings]

Cytological experience with sputum (33,064 samples from 8,003 patients) was presented as concerned with classification of findings with oncologically positive classes. Any respectative material (class 0) was not obtained from 334 patients (4.2%), class I-II findings belonged to 6m141 patients (76.7%), 950 patients (11.9%) were classified as class HII and IV, 578 patients (7.2%) as class V. Further analysis of class III-IV findings with lower diagnostic certainty pointed out features decisive for final diagnostic solution: 1. Details of non-standard cells modified by autolysis, 2. Borderline direct signs of malignancy, 3. Sporadic occurrence of abnormal or malignant cells. Any doubt about biological behaviour of the process and minimal lesions (indirect signs of malignancy) signalling presence of a tumour can contribute to class III-IV classification. Pathologist can assist the final diagnostic solution by serial sectioning of the material, recommendation of repeated sputum sampling and of applying other diagnostic bioptical and cytological methods. Patients with such a sort of suspected finding are to be dispensarized.