Flexible fiberopitc bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma.

Forty-eight patients with primary bronchial carcinomas have been examined, and 41 of these carcinomas (85%) were confirmed by histopathological or cytological tests on samples taken during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Thirty-seven patients (77%) were diagnosed histopathologically, based on forceps biopsy, and four cases cytologically, based on investigations of bronchial secretions and brush biopsies. In nine of 14 patients with peripheral tumours the diagnosis was verified by flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. We find this a very safe and useful method in the early diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma.