title: Importance of fiberoptic bronchoscopy before and during chemotherapy for small cell carcinoma of the lung in the evaluation of complete remission.
abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy both in diagnosing patients with small cell lung carcinoma and in assessing complete remission following combination chemotherapy. Although there were 90 patients in this study, 33 patients received the complete restaging procedure. Initially at diagnosis, all lesions seen through the bronchoscopy were localized to central bronchi in 22 patients. In the other 10 patients there was either bronchial distortion or abnormal mucosal appearance. In the last one no endoscopic lesion was assessed. Following combination chemotherapy complete remission in 12 patients was assessed by comparing the findings at repeat fiberoptic bronchoscopy with those of chest radiology. In this study, three (25%) of 12 patients with negative radiological patterns were still affected by the tumor at fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The higher reliability of fiberoptic bronchoscopy than that of standard chest X-ray is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Medicine, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, R.O.C.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lia
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Perng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic