CYTOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL CHANGES IN SMALL-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG

Cytologic specimens obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy were examined in 111 cases; the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the lung was es tablished with this procedure. The findings of cytologic examination w ere compared to those of histologic examination of the biopsy specimen s obtained simultaneously. Our aim was to evaluate other cell componen ts in the specimen besides small cell carcinoma. The majority of the c ases showed morphologic changes in the bronchial epithelium, which ran ged from benign squamous metaplasia (59%) to atypical squamous metapla sia (8%) and squamous cell carcinoma (8%). In 6% of cases a large cell carcinoma component was found in addition to the small cell carcinoma . The findings show a good correlation with those of histologic examin ation of the biopsy specimens, indicating that: cytologic examination is an excellent procedure for detecting concomitant changes in the bro nchial epithelium in the setting of small cell carcinoma of the lung.