False positive diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma based on bronchoscopic brushing and sputum cytology. A surgical point of view.

The problem of false positive diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma based on bronchoscopic brushing and sputum cytology is analysed. 1071 patients were reviewed, 230 of whom underwent "radical" resection. Diagnoses obtained from bronchoscopic brushing, sputum cytology and microscopic examination of surgical specimens were compared. The statistical analysis of the obtained results showed that "false positives" should be thoroughly evaluated. The concept of cancer in situ and the hypothesis of a multi-step evolution of bronchogenic carcinoma are briefly discussed.