Small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Cytological, roentgenologic, and clinical findings in a consecutive series diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Small-cell anaplastic carcinoma was diagnosed cytologically in 54 of 2,726 consecutive transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Histological material was available in 31 cases (28 anaplastic small-cell carcinomas, 1 carcinoid tumor, 1 adenocarcinoma, and 1 reticulum-cell sarcoma). Fine-needle aspiration cytology is reliable enough to permit a definite diagnosis of small-cell carcinoma, especially when combined with the roentgenograms and clinical findings.