[Bronchial carcinoma, bronchial microcarcinoidosis (tumorlets), and bronchial carcinoids (author's transl)].

During the last 22 years in Styria lung cancers, as revealed in autopsies, have increased in men by 9% and in women by 173%. In women undifferentiated carcinomas have been found six times as frequently as previously. The histological findings of mixed types of carcinomas with confusing cytology are presented: metastasizing squamous carcinoma with a survival time of 14 years and lung cancer developing in the upper lobe 35 years after being present in the lower lobe. In oat-cell carcinomas, certain structures suggest they originate from endocrine cells of the bronchial epithelium. This was also proven in bronchial peptide-producing microcarcinoidosis (tumorlets) and in carcinoids. At the same time, there are neuroendocrine contacts between tumors and nerves similar to carcinoids of the appendix and rectum.