Assessing the inoperability of bronchial carcinoma by angiocardiography.

The assessment of inoperability of bronchial carcinoma by angiocardiography has received little attention in this country, and it is the purpose of this paper to discuss the value of this investigation by analysing our results in 31 cases at Leicester Chest Unit. Since the introduction of angiocardiography by Robb and Steinberg in 1938 many authors have described its use in the differential diagnosis of lesions of the lungs and mediastinum, but it is not intended to discuss this aspect. The possibility of assessing the operability of bronchial neoplasm by angiocardiography was first suggested by Steinberg, Dotter, and Andrus (1950). Dotter and Steinberg in 1952 gave further details and results of their methods. In addition, Andersen, Andersen, Eltorm, Poulsen, Glistrup, and Petersen (1951) mentioned the use of this technique in the assessment of operability in two cases of bronchial carcinoma and in one case of mediastinal tumour (nodal metastases from a breast carcinoma).