title: The use of bronchoscopic sponge biopsy in the diagnosis of pulmonary neoplasms.
abstract: A modified method of transbronchoscopic sponge biopsy is presented a  series of 212 patients is discussed. A diagnostic accuracy rate of 89 per cent was obtained in the 159 cases of proved carcinoma. False-positive and false-negative results are discussed. This technique was found to be an easy, rapid, accurate, and inexpensive method of obtaining samples for cytologic evaluation in the preoperative work-up of patients with suspected pulmonary malignancies.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged