A survey of 501 cases of bronchogenic carcinoma.

This survey was undertaken as part of a general programme for the investigation of the possibility of an association between susceptibility to disease and eye and hair colour. No evidence of such an association in the case of bronchogenic carcinoma was found, but evidence on various other aspects of this disease was obtained, more especially statistical confirmation of views already put forward by other observers. These data have been obtained from 501 cases of bronchogenic carcinoma which occurred in members of the armed Forces during the period 1939-50. The series is not a random one, as selection on certain lines has occurred: (1) All cases were males. (2) The age incidence was necessarily limited to the Service ages. It ranged from 18 to 62 years. (3) None of the patients is still living. (4) Only " proved " cases have been used, " proof " being here defined as (a) histological evidence, either from biopsy or post-mortem examination, or (b) post-mortem evidence of a pulmonary growth with secondary deposits in the adrenal glands. This second criterion has been adopted because of the remarkable rarity with which neoplasms other than bronchogenic carcinoma produce adrenal secondaries, and the frequency with which histologically proved bronchogenic carcinomas do produce such metastases. Fifty-two cases of this second group have been included. These grounds of selection necessarily influence the interpretation of the data and are further considered in relation to the particular results they affect. Many of the findings were in every way similar to those described in previously published series; for example, previous history, clinical findings, cerebral presentation, abdominal presentation, distribution of secondaries. Only those subjects on which new data of a numerical nature have been found have been dealt with here.