CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF 19 CASES OF ISOLATED CARCINOMA IN-SITU OF THE BRONCHUS

Nineteen cases of isolated squamous cell carcinoma in situ (CIS) of th e bronchus were described clinicopathologically from among 149 male he avy smokers with roentgenographically occult lung cancer discovered ma inly by mass screening performed from 1982 to 1991. All 19 patients ha d positive sputum cytology tests and negative chest x-ray films and un derwent lobectomy (except one who had segmentectomy because of poor lu ng function). Prior to operation, localization was accomplished by one to eight bronchoscopies using repetitive brush cytology and biopsy. F ive cases were bronchoscopically invisible. Polypoid protuberance was noted in three cases, micronodular swelling in three, thickening of sp ur in five, and mucosal granularity in three. Histology by serial bloc k sectioning showed that there was no nodal involvement in any cases; the maximum length or diameter was 12 mm. Thirteen tumors were less-th an-or-equal-to 4 mm, four of which were confined to the spur where the y occurred. Follow-up data showed a favorable prognosis. Segmentectomy or sleeve resection of bronchus without mediastinal lymph node dissec tion may be adequate for CIS.