Clinical management of the benign cytological report in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules.

The clinical value of the benign cytological report was evaluated in 65 patients with a peripheral solitary pulmonary nodule. The cytological report suggesting a specific benign diagnosis (hamartoma, tuberculoma, carcinoid) was of decisive clinical value in 47 patients. In 18 patients the cytological report only suggested the presence of benign cellular elements and was of limited or even misleading clinical value and comprising two false negative reports. It is concluded, that the benign cytological report suggesting a specific lesion is of decisive clinical value, whereas a cytological report only suggesting benign cellular elements should prompt repuncture or surgical biopsy.