Immunomorphological lymph node changes in patients with operable bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma

Histological changes in tracheobronchial and bronchopulmonary lymph nodes of patients with operable (i.e. stages T1/2, N0/1, M0) bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma were examined histometrically. Out of 29 patients, 10 survived less than 12 months and 19 lived longer than two years after surgery. Quantitative methods were employed for measuring structural changes in lymph node sections at the histological and cellular level. The following parameters reflecting both cellular and humoral immune responses correlated with survival: relative numbers of large lymphoid cells and mitotic figures in the paracortical ("thymus-dependent") area; volume of the follicular (predominantly B-cell) cortex; and volume of germinal centers. Pronounced accumulation of histiocytes or dust-loaded macrophages in the paracortex and presence of "empty" lymph sinusoids (i.e. without sinuhistiocytosis) correlated inversely with survival. In addition to the theoretical importance and considerations of a documented immune response, such data could help in identifying high risk groups within the same stage of bronchogenic carcinoma of a given type.