Abstract :
Introduction and Aim: Bronchoscopy is highly sensitive investigation for patients with suspected lung
malignancy. Beside histology, a cytological diagnosis is also possible with the help of bronchoscopy. In
present study, we describe our experience of performing bronchoscopy in patients with suspected lung
cancer.
Materials and Methods: Present study was prospective observational study done over a period of one
year at a tertiary care centre of western India. In this study 75 patients were recruited in the study
that had suspected lung cancer and subjected to bronchoscopy also. A detailed clinical history, physical
examinations was done before hand and necessary investigations were also done. Selected patients with
chest x-ray and CT scan and clinical findings consisting with lung cancer were subjected for flexible fiberoptic
video bronchoscopy after obtaining well informed written consent.
Result: Most of the patients were between 51-70 years of age. 59 patients were male, and 16 patients
were female. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in all patients and given positive result in 42
patients. Yield of BAL was 56.0%. Endo-bronchial biopsy was performed in 58 patients and gave positive
result in 47 patients. Yield of Bronchial biopsy was 81.03%. Adenocarcinoma was commonest type present
in 40% of participants, while second most common was Squamous cell carcinoma. Small cell carcinoma
was present in 4.%, Large cell carcinoma in 1% and Undifferentiated carcinoma in 12% of patients.
Conclusion: Premature recognition of lung cancer in the airway is vital for evading the multi-step sequence
to invasive cancer. Though tissue biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing neoplastic and preneoplastic
disease, bronchoscopic technologies are the safest and most precise tools to assess both central and distal
airway mucosa.
Keyword :
Bronchoalveolar lavage, Fiber optic video bronchoscopy, Lung malignancy, Smoking, Transbronchial needle aspiration.