[New trends in the cytodiagnosis of bronchial carcinoma (author's transl)].

Cytological examination of the sputum is nowadays mainly used for mass surveys among high-risk populations and in suspicious cases with normal X-ray films. In all other cases, bronchial brushing and percutaneous puncture-biopsy of the lung are preferred, being much more reliable. Several new bronchial cytology techniques have recently been developed but are not yet widely used. Their respective indications are governed by the facilities available and by the volume, site and characteristic features of the tumour.