Evaluation of patients with bronchial carcinoma.
Results of diagnostic procedures are presented on 259 successive patients with bronchial cancer at Päivärinne Chest Hospital during the period 1967-73. The most common tumours were epidermoid (56%), 'small cell' (20.5%) and adenocarcinoma (9.5%). In 106 patients (41%) chest radiography suggested a tumour, though bronchoscopy was normal, and in 22 cases (8.5%) the radiograph was normal but bronchoscopy revealed a tumour. In 10 (4%) both the radiological and the bronchoscopic findings were normal. A definite histopathological diagnosis was reached by bronchoscopy in 144 patients (44%), by mediastinoscopy in 14 (5%), by fine needle biopsy in 28 (11%) and operatively in 103 (40%). Using all methods of treatment prognosis was significantly better in the group that had been diagnosed by mass miniature radiography, or accidentally (29% alive) as compared with those who had symptoms of the disease (6%).
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001995:Bronchography; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged