Effective use of bronchoscopy and sputa in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

The records of 134 patients who underwent bronchoscopy at the Forbes Health System hospitals between January 1, 1982 and December 31, 1983 were reviewed. The number of pre- and postbronchoscopy sputa obtained on each patient, final diagnosis, and follow-up for 6 to 30 months were obtained. Tissue obtained at bronchoscopy yielded a diagnosis of malignancy in 71 of 84 (84.5%) patients who received that final diagnosis. Addition of postbronchoscopy sputa examination increased the yield to 73 of 84 (86.9%). Prebronchoscopy sputa contributed no diagnoses beyond those made by bronchoscopically obtained material. The cost to the patient of examining pre- and postbronchoscopy sputa in addition to bronchoscopically obtained cytologic and biopsy material is 70% higher than that of examining bronchoscopically obtained material alone. Indirect costs of increased hospital stay may also be significant. We propose early bronchoscopy without prebronchoscopy sputa in cases where there is clinical suspicion of lung cancer. Postbronchoscopy sputa should be obtained, but only processed for microscopic examination if the bronchoscopically obtained material does not yield a diagnosis.