BRONCHOSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS OF MALIGNANCY IN THE LOWER AIRWAY - A CYTOLOGIC REVIEW

OBJECTIVES: To determine the significance of a ''suspicious'' cytology report, to evaluate diagnostic accuracy for these specimens in the la boratory and to review the correlation of tumor subclassification in c ytology versus histology. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review and compa rison of 269 bronchoscopic cytology and histology specimens from a Six -year period, 1984-1990. The relative and combined sensitivities of th e sampling methods were studied. RESULTS: There were 17 suspicious cyt ologic diagnoses during this period. One of 17 was a false suspicious diagnosis, representing 0.03% of all reports on submitted samples. The re were no false positive cytologic diagnoses. The majority (94%) of p atients with a suspicious cytologic report had a final diagnosis of ma lignancy. Carcinoma was diagnosed in 244 of the 269 patients. CONCLUSI ON: Combined bronchoscopic cytology and biopsy was move sensitive (92% ) than biopsy alone (82%) in making the initial diagnosis.