title: An evaluation of factors relevant to the diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma in Sri Lanka.
abstract: The incidence of bronchial carcinoma in Sri Lanka is low. The extent to which its pattern varies from that prevailing in western countries is demonstrated by a study of 84 cases diagnosed over a 10-year period. Of the patients examined 45-2 per cent were non-smokers, all 17 women belonging to this category. A negative smoking history, especially in women, was not a useful guide in assessing a suspected lesion. Adenocarcinoma, which is usually peripheral, comprised a high proportion of the tumours (22-6%). The majority of cases (70-3%) had had peripheral tumours which were beyond bronchoscopic visibility. Therefore, bronchoscopy was not as useful a diagnostic procedure as in the West. Digital clubbing was seen in less than half the males, while only two females had this sign.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking; D013188:Sri Lanka