Bronchial brushing and biopsy: a comparative evaluation in diagnosing visible bronchial lesions.
One hundred and forty patients underwent 142 brushings and conventional biopsies of suspected malignant lesions of the lung through a fibreoptic bronchoscope. Both samples were taken from the same area. One hundred and three patients showed positive results on brushing and 90 on biopsy. Thirty-nine diagnoses were negative on brushing and 52 on biopsy. A correct cell typing was obtained in 105 of 109 diagnoses of malignancy. Final diagnoses showed 118 malignant lesions and 22 benign conditions. False positives were respectively, 2 on brushing and 1 on biopsy, while false negatives were 17 on brushing and 30 on biopsy. Brushing showed higher sensitivity (85.5%) and accuracy (86.6%) than biopsy. A combination of the two techniques gives an accuracy rate of 94.3%.
Institute of Surgical Pathology II, University of Catania, Italy.
S
S
Saita
A
A
Tanzillo
C
C
Riscica
A
A
Maresca
E
E
Potenza
M
M
D'Arrigo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity