DISEASES of the CHEST

With the development of thoracic surgery, accurate preoperative diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma has become increasingly important. It has been found that cytologic examination of sputum and bronchial secretions provides a useful adjunct to already established methods of diagnosis.’-4 Cytologic examination of sputum and bronchial secretions has been carried out in our laboratory for the past three years. During this time specimens from approximately 6,000 patients have been examined and a cytologic diagnosis of carcinoma has been made in more than 400 cases. Cytologic examination of sputum was the basis for the diagnosis in approximately four fifths of the total number; in the remaining cases the diagnosis was based on the examination of bronchial secretions, washings or smears made by direct swabbing of the bronchial wall.