Bronchiolar carcinoma: a case report with pulmonary function studies.

A patient with bilateral multinodular bronchiolar carcinoma is described in whom carbon monoxide transfer factor and arterial oxygen saturation were greatly impaired but lung volumes and ventilation were only minimally reduced. We record this because we have not found previous reports of detailed pulmonary function studies in this condition. A 57-year-old man was admitted to hospital in August 1965 with a three-week history of breath-lessness and cough which was initially dry but one week later became productive of a moderate quantity of mucoid sputum. He also complained of shivering, sweating, palpitations, lassitude, insomnia , anorexia, and a weight loss of 8 lb. (3-6 kg.). He denied any other symptoms, including chest pain and haemoptysis. He had spent most of his working life in furniture factories but had not been exposed to any industrial risk and there were no previous respiratory symptoms. He smoked 20 cigarettes per day.