Relationship between cytomorphologic features and prognosis in small-cell carcinoma of the lung.

Small-cell bronchial carcinoma cells obtained from 18 patients by fiberbronchoscopic brushing were examined to determine whether the cytomorphologic features could be related to the prognosis. Nuclear features such as small (less than 10 micrometer) or large (greater than 11 micrometer) size, round or aberrant shape and dark or light staining, were evaluated. In small-cell carcinoma cases with a very poor prognosis (death within four months), the incidence of small, round, darkly stained nuclei was much greater and a coarse or pyknotic chromatin pattern was more frequent in comparison with small-cell carcinoma cases with a better prognosis (survival greater than two years). In cases with a good prognosis, the incidence of large, lightly stained nuclei with aberrant shapes was much greater and a fine chromatin pattern was more frequent in comparison with cases with a very poor prognosis. Pertinent cytomorphologic features thus seem to be related to the prognosis.