Preoperative evaluation of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.

The preoperative evaluation of patients with suspected or proven bronchogenic carcinoma is directed at establishing the diagnosis, the extent of disease, and the ability of the patient to withstand the removal of lung tissue. The diagnosis may not be established until thoracotomy, but sputum cytologies or specimens taken at the time of fiberoptic bronchoscopy may diagnose a malignant process preoperatively.