[Comparison of the results of transbronchial puncture of the lymph nodes with surgical findings in patients with lung cancer].

Referring to a group of 144 patients with lung cancer planned for lung surgery, the authors compared the results of the needle biopsy of hilar, bifurcation and paratracheal nodes with the pathologist's finding in the resected portions of the lungs. In the hilar region, there were 89.5% findings in agreement with postoperative, 10.5% different findings. These were six patients where falsely negative results were found in 2 patients, falsely positive results in 4 patients. In the bifurcation and paratracheal regions, the cytologist's and pathologist's findings were entirely in agreement. At the same time the authors considered peribronchial needle biopsy for the ability to detect the lymph node. In the group of patients, in whom the nodes had not been reached by the needle, the pathologist described enlarged nodes in 14.7% patients in the hilar region, a 2.9% rate in the region of the bifurcation, and a 12.2% rate in the paratracheal region. In the authors' opinion, the method of peribronchial needle biopsy is sufficiently accurate and very useful for the intrathoracic staging of bronchogenic carcinoma. They see it as an inseparable part of bronchoscopy in patients with lung cancer.